Minority Demands Ablakwa’s Resignation Over Alleged Shortfall In SA Evacuees’ Payments

The Minority in Parliament has demanded the immediate resignation of Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa over claims that some Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa received less than the GH¢5,500 support package announced by the government.

The Minority has also urged President John Dramani Mahama to remove the minister from office if he refuses to step down.

The demand was made by the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, at a press conference in Parliament on Tuesday, October 27.

Mr Jinapor also called for an independent audit of the evacuation exercise by an internationally reputable accounting firm to determine whether the reported payment discrepancies occurred.

Explaining the Minority’s position, Mr Jinapor said the allegations warranted the minister’s resignation.

“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 cited Section 2.1(j) of President Mahama’s 2025 Code of Conduct and Ethics for Political Appointees, arguing that ministers are expected to resign when their actions or leadership result in significant failure, corruption or a breach of public trust.

Mr Jinapor further maintained that the President should invoke Article 81(a) of the 1992 Constitution to terminate Mr Ablakwa’s appointment if he fails to resign.

He said the President needed to ensure that political appointees faced consequences when their conduct seriously undermined public confidence.

“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 Minority’s demand follows reports that at least three people contacted from the evacuation list alleged they received GH¢2,000 instead of the GH¢5,500 package announced by the government.

Mr Ablakwa, however, has rejected the claims, insisting that every Ghanaian on the evacuation list, including minors, received the full amount.

According to the minister, the package comprised GH¢5,000 for reintegration support and GH¢500 for transportation.

Speaking to members of the Ghanaian community in Ottawa, Canada, during an official working visit, Mr Ablakwa said the ministry had not received any complaints about payment shortfalls since the evacuation exercise began more than four months ago.

He also maintained that no concerns had been raised at the airport about missing envelopes or payments below the announced amount.