The Member of Parliament for Bosome Freho, Nana Asafo Adjei Ayeh, has clarified that the Minority’s scrutiny of government expenditure on the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa is not an allegation of criminal wrongdoing but a call for clearer financial accounting.
Speaking to Isaac Addae on Morning Starr on Starr FM, Mr Ayeh said the Minority had raised concerns about figures presented in connection with the evacuation exercise and wanted the government to provide further information to address the discrepancies.
“We are not saying at this stage that there has been a crime. We are saying that this information does not add up for us, so provide better accounting or better information on these numbers,” he stated.
Mr Ayeh explained that the Minority was seeking transparency over the expenditure and intended to compile a report on its findings, alongside relevant documents, for submission to the ministry.
He added that the caucus would push for an audit to establish whether the figures presented by the government corresponded with the actual payments made during the evacuation exercise.
According to him, an audit would provide an opportunity for the relevant authorities to explain the figures, produce supporting evidence and address the concerns raised before any conclusions were reached.
Mr Ayeh stressed that the Minority’s position was not intended to undermine the evacuation exercise, which it supports, but to ensure that public funds used for the operation were properly accounted for.
He maintained that support for the government’s decision to evacuate Ghanaians from South Africa did not exempt the expenditure from parliamentary scrutiny.
“The minister reserves the right to take whatever decisions he wants to take. We equally reserve the right to look at the decisions the minister is taking,” he said.
READ: South Africa evacuation: No special interest in spending probe – Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh
Mr Ayeh said examining government decisions and expenditure formed part of the Minority’s parliamentary oversight responsibilities, adding that the exercise was necessary to promote transparency and accountability in public service.
He reiterated that the caucus wanted clearer explanations of the financial figures and supporting records, rather than premature conclusions about possible wrongdoing.
