The minority in Parliament has demanded a full, independent audit of the more than ¢49 million spent on evacuating 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa during recent xenophobic tensions, citing alleged discrepancies in payment registers and flight records.
The demand follows revelations that ¢16,423,470 — representing roughly one-third of the total ¢49,721,786 expended on the exercise — remains inadequately accounted for.
The Deputy Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, told the media that the Minister of Foreign Affairs must provide a full and satisfactory explanation for the sum.
“The minister is expected to account properly for 16,423,470 Ghana Cedis, which now represents 33% or a near one-third of the entire entry of the form 49,721,786 Ghana Cedis spent on the evacuation exercise, and that the Minister of Foreign Affairs must fully and satisfactorily account for,” Ayeh said.
The minority also demanded an audit of the amount spent in the exercise.
“We demand on behalf of the minority a full, independent audit of the entry of the evacuation exercise. It must be conducted by independent audit accounting firm to ensure full and proper accountability on this matter.
“The minister’s own invitation to the Auditor General is welcome as far as it goes, but given the scale and the gravity of the discrepancies we have identified, only a thorough independent and transparent audit with findings made public can restore the confidence of the Ghanaian people in the public management of their funds,” he said.
The minority’s call comes as Ghana’s High Commission in Pretoria has issued a fresh security advisory to Ghanaians living in Johannesburg, Durban and surrounding areas.
The advisory follows reports of unrest and urges citizens to remain vigilant and avoid affected locations.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
