Minority Boycotts Foreign Affairs Committee Meeting On South Africa Evacuation

The Minority Caucus on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee has boycotted a closed-door meeting on the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa, insisting on full disclosure of how much was spent on the exercise.

The Committee was scheduled to meet the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, for a briefing on the evacuation.

But the Minority says it will not take part in the meeting until the Ministry provides an itemised account with supporting documents on the expenditure.

In a statement signed by the Ranking Member on the Committee, Samuel A. Jinapor, the Minority said it had filed a formal request under the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989) for details of the exercise, but is yet to receive the records.

According to the statement, the RTI request was submitted on August 17 and received by the Ministry on August 25, 2026. The Minority said it requested information on total expenditure, sources of funding, contributions from private partners, as well as costs related to transportation, accommodation, feeding, medical services and reintegration payments for evacuees.

The Minority noted that on September 7, the Minister announced that almost GH¢50 million had been spent on the evacuation and reintegration of 1,964 Ghanaians.

The Caucus said without the underlying financial records, it cannot in good conscience participate in a closed-door discussion on the same matter.

“In these circumstances, the Minority does not consider it appropriate to participate in a closed door meeting intended to discuss the same subject matter while its formal request for the underlying expenditure records remains outstanding,” the statement said.

“Accordingly, the Minority Caucus on the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament will not participate in the closed-door meeting scheduled for Wednesday, 16th September 2026, unless and until the Ministry provides the itemized account and supporting records requested,” it added.

The Minority has reiterated its call on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to disclose the full breakdown of expenditure with supporting documentation, stressing that government has a duty to account to taxpayers for the use of public funds.