I received only GH¢5,000, without any transport allowance - South Africa evacuee

A Ghanaian evacuated from South Africa said on Monday he received the government’s GH¢5,000 reintegration package but not the additional GH¢500 transport allowance, adding that two packs of rice he was supposed to receive had been reduced to one.

“In fact I received the GH¢5000 package and I used it to rent but I didn’t get the 500 cedis. Also I saw that my packaged rice had been tampered with. It cntained two but I only saw one. But above all the government has been supportive,” the returnee told journalists.

His account comes amid a dispute over the financial assistance and other items provided to Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa following xenophobic attacks.

The returnee’s statement contrasts with claims by Michael Addo, a representative of the evacuees, who said all returnees received the full GH¢5,500 package, comprising GH¢5,000 in reintegration assistance and GH¢500 for transportation.

Addo also alleged that some members of the evacuee group had been contacted and coached by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) to criticise the government’s support package.

“We are aware that some members of our group have received calls and coaching to speak against the government, but our conscience will not allow us to do so, even if we support the opposition party rather than the government of the day,” Addo said.

The allegations of political coaching have not been independently verified.

The controversy intensified after JoyNews Research reported that its analysis of records relating to the evacuation found discrepancies, including cases where some returnees had allegedly not received the full reintegration and transport allowances.

The investigation also identified duplicate names, payments without signatures and expenditure for which supporting receipts were unavailable, according to the broadcaster.

The government reportedly spent GH¢49.72 million on the evacuation of 1,964 Ghanaian nationals from South Africa.

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has rejected claims that some returnees were denied portions of the announced support package. He has said all 1,000 Ghanaians on the evacuation list, including minors, received the full amount, and that his ministry had not received complaints about payment shortfalls.

The returnee’s account raises questions about whether all beneficiaries received the same assistance, although the details of his individual case have not been independently confirmed.

The evacuees were brought back to Ghana following xenophobic attacks in South Africa, and the government’s spending on the exercise and the support provided to returnees have become subjects of public and political scrutiny.