Minority demands Ablakwa’s resignation over alleged South Africa evacuation payment shortfalls
by Miss Naa · MyNewsGh.comThe Minority in Parliament has demanded the resignation of Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa over allegations that some Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa received Ghc2,000 instead of the Ghc5,500 support package announced by the government.
Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, made the demand at a press conference on Tuesday, October 27, also threatening to petition President John Dramani Mahama to sack the minister if he refuses to resign.
Mr Jinapor called for an independent audit of the evacuation exercise by an internationally reputable accounting firm to establish whether the reported payment shortfalls occurred.
“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 the minister must accept responsibility if his leadership has resulted in significant failure or a breach of public trust.
Mr Jinapor further invoked Article 81(a) of the 1992 Constitution, calling on the President to terminate Ablakwa’s appointment if he declines to step down.
“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 Ghc2,000 rather than the Ghc5,500 announced by the government.
However, Mr Ablakwa has denied the allegations, maintaining that all evacuees on the list, including minors, received the full package comprising Ghc5,000 in reintegration support and Ghc500 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.
Source: MyNewsGh.com
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