The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has launched an examination into possible irregularities in the disbursement of GH¢49.7 million spent on evacuating Ghanaians from South Africa following xenophobic attacks.
The investigation is expected to establish whether the funds reported as expenditure by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were properly accounted for and paid to the intended beneficiaries and service providers.
In a statement issued on Monday, November 9, 2026, the OSP said it was examining alleged discrepancies between the Ministry’s reported expenditure and payment records relating to the evacuation exercise.
The Office identified concerns including duplicate entries, insufficient supporting documentation and payments recorded against some beneficiaries who have reportedly denied receiving the amounts indicated.
The evacuation, which ran from May 27 to September 4, 2026, brought 1,964 Ghanaian nationals home following attacks and threats against foreign nationals in South Africa.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported spending GH¢49,721,786 on the exercise, covering chartered flights, commercial air tickets, transportation, accommodation, feeding, medical services and reintegration allowances.
The OSP said its examination would focus on identifying the actual recipients of the payments, verifying the supporting records and determining whether any public officer or private individual improperly benefited from the expenditure.
It stressed that the inquiry was not questioning the government’s decision to evacuate Ghanaians as a humanitarian response but was concerned with the management and accountability of public funds used for the exercise.
The Office said it would provide further information where appropriate and reminded the public that all persons concerned are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
