Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has launched an examination into alleged corruption and financial irregularities surrounding the GH¢49.7 million spent by the government to evacuate Ghanaian nationals from South Africa.
The development has sparked renewed concerns about accountability and transparency in the management of public funds, as questions continue to emerge over discrepancies in the expenditure records.
In a statement issued on Monday, November 9, 2026, the OSP disclosed that it was scrutinising possible corruption-related offences associated with the evacuation exercise undertaken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The operation, conducted between May 27 and September 4, 2026, successfully brought home 1,964 Ghanaian nationals following xenophobic attacks and threats against foreigners in South Africa.
According to official figures presented by Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the government recorded a total expenditure of GH¢49,721,786.
The amount covered chartered flights, commercial airline tickets, accommodation, transportation, feeding, medical expenses and reintegration allowances for returning Ghanaians.
However, concerns have emerged over alleged duplicate payment entries, missing supporting documents and financial records indicating payments to individuals who reportedly never received the stated amounts.
The OSP explained that its examination seeks to determine whether the funds were appropriately disbursed, identify the actual beneficiaries and establish whether any public official or private individual unlawfully benefited from the exercise.
The controversy intensified after the Minority Caucus in Parliament raised questions about the financial documentation provided by the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
The Minority previously alleged that approximately GH¢16.4 million of the reported expenditure required further reconciliation, citing inconsistencies in passenger records, payment registers and supporting documents.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Affairs Ministry has defended its handling of the evacuation, maintaining that the exercise was conducted to protect Ghanaian citizens facing threats abroad.
The ministry previously submitted a report exceeding 200 pages to account for the expenditure and requested a special audit by the Auditor-General.
Importantly, the OSP has clarified that its examination does not challenge the government’s humanitarian decision to rescue Ghanaians from South Africa.
Rather, its focus remains on establishing whether the financial resources allocated to the operation were properly managed and accounted for.
The anti-corruption agency further emphasised that all individuals connected to the matter remain innocent unless proven guilty under the law.
With millions of cedis now under scrutiny, the examination could become a significant test of transparency and financial accountability in Ghana’s public administration.
As the OSP continues its examination, Ghanaians will be watching closely to see whether the alleged irregularities reveal genuine financial misconduct or can be resolved through proper reconciliation of the expenditure records.
