Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh: Ghana Evacuation RTI Request Filed for Audit

• Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, a Ghanaian MP, has filed a Right to Information (RTI) request with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration regarding the evacuation of nationals from South Africa.
• The MP seeks a full financial audit trail, including total costs, expenditure breakdowns, and supporting documents, for the evacuation ongoing since May 2026.
• The request specifically targets the source of funds, including the Consolidated Fund, and details about 'Ghanaian partners' involved in the funding.
• It also demands information on procurement methods for evacuation flights and any considerations offered to contributing partners.
• This action follows a Ministry statement on August 13, 2026, claiming the evacuation was fully funded by the government and its partners, without disclosing financial specifics.

The detailed nature of the information sought, from specific financial breakdowns to procurement methodologies and partner benefits, underscores a growing parliamentary and public desire for rigorous oversight of public funds.

A prominent Ghanaian legislator, Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, who serves as the Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Committee, has initiated a formal Right to Information (RTI) request directed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration. The Member of Parliament for Bosome-Freho is seeking a comprehensive financial audit trail concerning Ghana's ongoing evacuation efforts for its nationals in South Africa.

This detailed request follows a statement issued by the Ministry on August 13, 2026, which asserted that Ghana had 'fully funded the evacuation of our nationals from South Africa following recent xenophobic attacks.' The Ministry further clarified that the operation was financed by the Government of Ghana and 'our Ghanaian partners,' explicitly stating that no financial or material assistance had been sought from the South African government. Since May 2026, over 1,600 Ghanaians have been repatriated, with the Ministry confirming that evacuees receive reintegration funds, transport fares, and various relief items upon their arrival back home.

Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh contends that the Ministry's statement, despite confirming government resource allocation, leaves crucial questions unanswered regarding the exercise's overall cost and financing mechanisms. He highlighted the absence of information on the total amount expended, the specific composition of this expenditure, the precise appropriation or account from which funds were drawn, and the identities of the private entities referred to as 'Ghanaian partners.' The MP stressed that without these details, the cost of the operation remains undisclosed to the public record, preventing both Parliament and taxpayers from adequately assessing it.

To address these gaps, the RTI request specifically demands the total amount spent, presented in both Ghana cedis and US dollars. It also seeks a granular breakdown of costs, encompassing air charters, commercial tickets, ground transportation, accommodation expenses incurred in South Africa, consular and travel documentation, staff costs, reintegration payments, and relief items. Furthermore, the request insists on the provision of supporting documentation, including invoices, payment vouchers, receipts, contracts, purchase orders, charter agreements, and official expenditure approvals.

A significant component of the request focuses on the origins of the funds utilized for the evacuation. Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh is pressing for disclosure on whether money was drawn from the Consolidated Fund, the Contingency Fund, the Ministry’s allocated 2026 budget, supplementary appropriations, or funds managed by the Ghana High Commission in Pretoria. The request also extends to obtaining copies of warrants, releases, and expenditure authorizations issued by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, aiming for a comprehensive understanding of the financial flows.

Particular attention is given to the 'Ghanaian partners' mentioned by the Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Ministry. The MP has requested the names of all individuals, companies, or institutions involved, the precise value of their contributions, and whether this support was rendered in cash or in kind. Crucially, he also seeks to ascertain if any of these partners have received, or are entitled to receive, any form of consideration from the government, such as reimbursement, specific tax treatment, procurement advantages, acknowledgment of debt, future commitments, or any other benefits. Additionally, the request calls for a schedule of every evacuation flight, detailing the date, service provider, number of evacuees, cost, and whether the flight was chartered or commercial, alongside the procurement method employed for each arrangement, specifying if it was competitive, restricted, single-source, or emergency procurement.

This extensive Right to Information Act Ghana procurement request by Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh signals a heightened demand for transparency and accountability in government expenditure, particularly concerning emergency operations and public-private partnerships. The detailed nature of the information sought, from specific financial breakdowns to procurement methodologies and partner benefits, underscores a growing parliamentary and public desire for rigorous oversight of public funds.

The initiative to conduct a Ghana South Africa evacuation audit, driven by a Member of Parliament, sets a precedent for future scrutiny of government projects and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Ghana expenditure. It highlights the increasing utilization of the Right to Information Act to ensure that public resources, including those potentially drawn from the Consolidated Fund Ghana scrutiny, are managed with utmost clarity and that 'Ghana government partners funding audit' processes are robust and transparent.

This development signals increased scrutiny over government expenditure and procurement processes in Ghana, particularly concerning emergency operations and public-private partnerships. Lawyers advising entities involved in government contracts or public finance should note the detailed nature of the RTI request, which could set a precedent for future transparency demands and potential audits.

Source: Original reporting via Abubakar Ibrahim