SA evacuation: Minority threatens vote of censure against Ablakwa if he fails to resign

The Minority in Parliament has threatened to initiate a vote of censure against Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa if he fails to resign over alleged financial irregularities surrounding the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, the Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Jinapor said the Minority would consider invoking the parliamentary process under Article 82 of the 1992 Constitution and Order 138 of Parliament’s Standing Orders if the minister remains in office.

“Should the Minister remain in office, the Minority in Parliament will consider initiating the parliamentary process for a vote of censure under Article 82 of the Constitution and Order 138 of the Standing Orders of Parliament against the Minister,” he said.

Jinapor also called on President John Dramani Mahama to terminate Ablakwa’s appointment if he fails to resign.

“If the Minister fails to resign, we call on the President to terminate his appointment in accordance with Article 81(a) of our national Constitution. The President must demonstrate that the standards he sets for his appointees have consequences,” he added.

The Minority’s position follows concerns over the expenditure incurred during the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa amid xenophobic attacks.

The group has called for an independent audit of the exercise, citing alleged discrepancies in payments, duplicate entries, missing signatures and expenditure without supporting receipts.

The Minority added that the minister’s handling of the exercise had brought his office into disrepute.

The demand comes a day after a group of evacuees addressed the media to deny claims that they had been underpaid and to defend the government’s support for their return amid xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

However, Mr Jinapor said information available to the Minority pointed to serious financial irregularities in the management of funds for the exercise.

He cited media investigations that had reportedly uncovered cases of evacuees who did not receive their allowances, duplicate entries, payments recorded without signatures and expenditure lacking supporting receipts.

“…uncovered additional grave anomalies and disturbing contradictions that deepen our suspicions about the handling of these public funds. Independent media investigations have also uncovered damming and disturbing revelations of evacuees who reportedly did not receive the allowances, duplicate entries, payments recorded without signatures and expenditure for which supporting receipts were unavailable.

“The evidence before us reveals grave financial regularities compelling misapplications of public funds and possible fraud,” he stated.