OSP Probes GH¢49.7m South Africa Evacuation Expenditure

OSP Launches Inquiry Into South Africa Evacuation Expenditure

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), led by Kissi Agyebeng, has officially commenced an examination into allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement involving the South Africa evacuation expenditure. The investigation centers on the GH¢49.7 million spent by the government to repatriate citizens during a period of heightened Ghanaian xenophobic attacks South Africa in 2026.

From May 27 to September 4, 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ghana coordinated the evacuation of 1,964 Ghanaian nationals who were facing threats or physical violence. While the humanitarian intent of the mission has not been questioned, the OSP is strictly focusing on the management of public funds investigation. The objective is to determine whether the GH¢49,721,786 allocated for the exercise was disbursed according to fiscal regulations or if public officers and private entities improperly benefited from the emergency situation.

The GH¢49.7 Million Expenditure Breakdown

“The examination seeks to establish whether the funds were properly accounted for and disbursed, who received the payments, and whether any public officer or private individual improperly benefited.”

— Office of the Special Prosecutor Statement

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided a summary of how the nearly GH¢50 million was utilized. According to official reports, the funds covered a wide range of logistical and personal support services for the affected citizens. The reported costs included:

• Chartered flights and commercial airline tickets for 1,964 individuals.
• Temporary accommodation for evacuees awaiting transit.
• Feeding and daily subsistence allowances during the evacuation process.
• Emergency medical services and health screenings.
• Local transportation within South Africa and upon arrival in Ghana.
• Reintegration allowances intended to help returnees settle back into their communities.

Specific Discrepancies Under Investigation

The OSP’s interest was piqued by significant inconsistencies found in the financial records provided by the Ministry. Preliminary reviews suggest that the accounting for the South Africa evacuation expenditure contains duplicate entries, where the same expense appears to have been billed multiple times. Furthermore, there are reports of inadequate supporting documentation, such as missing receipts or unverified invoices for large-scale chartered services.

Perhaps most concerning are the claims from some intended beneficiaries. The OSP has noted instances where payments were recorded as having been made to specific individuals, yet those individuals have come forward to claim they never received any funds. This development mirrors previous concerns regarding administrative transparency, such as the investigation into service passports, where procedural integrity was also called into question.

Political Fallout and Parliamentary Action

The news of the OSP probe has intensified the Minority in Parliament’s demands for accountability. The opposition has been vocal about what they describe as a “pattern of opacity” within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Leading members of the Minority have already threatened to initiate a vote of censure against the Foreign Affairs Minister if immediate and satisfactory explanations are not provided regarding the financial irregularities.

This scrutiny comes at a time when the legislature is already sensitive to issues of foreign mission spending. The Minority has previously highlighted similar concerns during the diplomatic passport probe, suggesting that the current investigation is part of a broader need for reform in how the Ministry handles sensitive international operations. The OSP has clarified that all persons involved are presumed innocent unless proven guilty, but the political pressure continues to mount as the public demands to know how their tax money was utilized during the crisis.

What This Means for Ordinary Ghanaians

For the average taxpayer, the investigation into the South Africa evacuation expenditure is a litmus test for government accountability. When the state intervenes in a humanitarian crisis, there is an expectation that every cedi spent is directed toward the safety and well-being of the citizens in distress. If funds meant for reintegration and medical care were diverted, it represents not just a financial crime, but a betrayal of the vulnerable people the program was designed to protect.

Accountability in these interventions is crucial to ensuring that future emergency responses are not hampered by corruption. As the OSP continues to review payment records and interview witnesses, the focus remains on whether the state can protect its citizens abroad without falling prey to internal financial leakage. The outcome of this probe will likely influence how emergency funds are managed in the future and whether the Office of the Special Prosecutor can successfully curb high-level administrative irregularities.