Ablakwa will not do anything to cost Ghana in evacuation exercise — Kumah

The Member of Parliament for Kintampo North, Hon. Joseph Kwame Kumah, has defended the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, over the evacuation of 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa.

Speaking on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM’s _Frontline Show_, Hon. Kumah said the Minister, who previously served as Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee, has the experience and integrity to handle the exercise without costing the country.

He described Hon. Ablakwa as competent and trustworthy, pointing to his track record during the Russia-Ukraine war when, as Ranking Member, he visited Ghanaian students in Ukraine to support them.

> “Such a person serving as Foreign Affairs Minister is working seriously in the interest of Ghana,” he said.

His comments come after the Minority in Parliament called for an independent audit of the GH¢49.72 million spent on evacuating the 1,964 Ghanaians amid xenophobic tensions in South Africa, citing alleged discrepancies in payment registers and flight records provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, said the audit should be conducted by an independent accounting firm, with the findings and terms of reference made public.

But Hon. Kumah accused Minority members on the Committee of declining to meet with the Minister for a briefing on the evacuation report.

He said he was surprised they are now organising press conferences to call for auditing and accountability.