Minority demands Ablakwa’s resignation or dismissal over SA evacuation payments

The Minority in Parliament has called on Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa to resign over allegations that some Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa received less than the GH¢5,500 support package announced by the government. They want the President to sack him if he fails to resign. The demand was made by the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, at a press conference at Parliament on Tuesday, October 27. Mr Jinapor also called for a comprehensive independent audit of the evacuation exercise by an internationally reputable accounting firm to establish the facts surrounding the alleged payment shortfalls. “Given the gravity of these revelations and in order to ensure an impartial investigation into the matter, we call on the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Honourable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, to resign immediately. His handling of this exercise has brought his high office into disrepute,” he said. He argued that the Minister must accept responsibility in line with Section 2.1(j) of President John Dramani Mahama’s 2025 Code of Conduct and Ethics for Political Appointees, which he said requires resignation where a Minister’s actions or leadership result in significant failure, corruption or a breach of public trust. Mr Jinapor further called on President Mahama to terminate Mr Ablakwa’s appointment if he refuses to resign, citing Article 81(a) of the 1992 Constitution. “The President must demonstrate that the standards he has set for his appointees have consequences when public confidence in their stewardship has been seriously undermined,” he added. The demand follows reports that at least three people contacted from the evacuation list claimed they received GH¢2,000 instead of the GH¢5,500 announced by the government. However, Mr Ablakwa has denied the allegations, insisting that all Ghanaians on the evacuation list, including minors, received the full package comprising GH¢5,000 in reintegration support and GH¢500 for transportation. Speaking to the Ghanaian community in Ottawa, Canada, during an official working visit, the Minister said his ministry had received no complaints about payment shortfalls since the evacuation exercise began more than four months ago. He also maintained that no concerns were raised at the airport over missing envelopes or payments below the announced amount.