The Minority in Parliament is demanding the Ablakwa resignation over allegations that some Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa received less than the GH¢5,500 support package announced by government.
Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, made the call at a press conference on Tuesday, October 27, and urged President John Dramani Mahama to dismiss Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa if he refuses to step down.
“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.” - Mr Jinapor
Minority Wants Independent Audit
The Minority also called for an independent audit of the evacuation exercise by what it described as an internationally reputable accounting firm.
Mr Jinapor said the review should establish whether every beneficiary received the approved amount and address questions surrounding payment records.
The demand follows reports that at least three people contacted from the official evacuation list claimed they received GH¢2,000 instead of GH¢5,500.
The Minority argues that the controversy raises questions of ministerial responsibility and public confidence.
Ablakwa Rejects Underpayment Claims
Mr Ablakwa has denied that evacuees were shortchanged.
He maintains that all 1,964 returnees, including children, received GH¢5,000 in reintegration support and GH¢500 for transportation.
The minister has also said no formal complaint about underpayment has been lodged with his ministry since the evacuation exercise began.
Some evacuees have separately defended the payments, with a representative of the group saying returnees received the full GH¢5,500 package.
The dispute now centres on whether the payment records and accounts of individual beneficiaries support the government’s stated expenditure.
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