No complaints received over South Africa evacuation payments – Ablakwa

He said all 1,000 Ghanaians on the evacuation list, including minors, received the full amount, comprising GH¢5,000 in reintegration support and GH¢500 for transportation.

Addressing the Ghanaian community in Ottawa, Canada, during an official working visit, Mr Ablakwa questioned the claims, arguing that the payments were made openly and that no beneficiary had reported receiving less than the announced amount.

His comments follow 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.

The minister maintained that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had not received any complaints since the evacuation exercise began more than four months ago. He also said no concerns were raised at the airport over missing envelopes or payments that fell short of the stated amount.

“For more than four months since the evacuation commenced, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not received a single complaint. We didn’t receive a complaint at the airport that an envelope has not been received or an amount is not up to the figure. Up until this day, there has been no complaint by any of the Ghanaians evacuated,” he said.

Ablakwa described the package as unprecedented in Ghana’s evacuation exercises, noting that previous operations had not included similar reintegration support and transportation allowances.

Despite the criticism directed at him, Ablakwa pledged to continue supporting Ghanaians in distress abroad.

“But I give you one assurance that despite all the vilification, I remain fully committed to the welfare, the protection of the dignity

and the rights of Ghanaians. I am not discouraged at all,” he added.

Meanwhile the Minority has called for an independent audit of the GH¢49.72 million spent by the government.