By Issah Olegor
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa is facing renewed scrutiny following reports that his personal assistant of nine years, identified as Blaise, and his personal driver have been dismissed over allegations that they leaked official information relating to the controversial evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority in Parliament.
The reported dismissals have added another layer to the growing controversy surrounding the GH¢49.72 million spent on evacuating Ghanaians fleeing xenophobic attacks in South Africa. The expenditure has been questioned by the opposition, while a JoyNews Research investigation has raised concerns about discrepancies in some of the records submitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Separately, the NPP Minority has alleged that Ablakwa’s former bodyguard, Kelvin Aikins, was dismissed after allegedly receiving US$10,000 from Daniel Vanderpuye, the Chief Executive Officer of Your Cruise People, a company reportedly involved in negotiations for charter flights used during the evacuation exercise.
The claims have triggered further questions about the circumstances surrounding the departure of individuals who worked closely with the minister and whether their reported dismissals are connected to the growing dispute over the evacuation expenditure.
However, the allegations concerning the alleged leak of official information and the US$10,000 payment remain claims that require independent verification. The available information does not establish whether the reported dismissals were formally confirmed by the minister, nor does it conclusively establish the purpose of the alleged payment or whether it was connected to public funds.
$10,000 Allegation Raises Questions Over Private Company’s Role
The allegation involving Aikins has attracted particular attention because of the reported connection between Vanderpuye’s company and the evacuation arrangements.
According to claims attributed to the NPP Minority, Aikins allegedly received US$10,000 from Vanderpuye without informing Ablakwa, a development that reportedly led to his dismissal.
The circumstances surrounding the transaction, including whether the money was a personal payment, what it was intended for and whether it had any connection to government business, have not been conclusively established in the information available.
The allegation has nevertheless raised questions about possible interactions between individuals within the minister’s immediate circle and private companies involved in arrangements linked to the evacuation exercise.
Your Cruise People has been identified in reports as the company selected to lead negotiations with Ethiopian Airlines over charter flights associated with the operation. Its reported involvement has become significant because the cost of chartering aircraft accounts for a substantial portion of the total expenditure under scrutiny.
The NPP Minority has questioned the documentation supporting the reported GH¢27.18 million spent on charter flights and is demanding original contracts, airline invoices, payment vouchers and other records to establish how the costs were determined and payments made.
The alleged US$10,000 payment has therefore become part of a wider debate over transparency, procurement procedures and accountability in the handling of public expenditure.
Nevertheless, the allegation against the former bodyguard should not automatically be interpreted as proof that Ablakwa or any other official engaged in wrongdoing. Establishing the facts would require a clear account of the transaction, the parties involved and any relevant documentary evidence.
Reported Dismissals of Personal Assistant and Driver Add to Controversy
The reported dismissal of Ablakwa’s personal assistant, Blaise, and his personal driver has also drawn attention because of the claim that they were accused of leaking official information concerning the evacuation controversy to the NPP Minority.
Blaise reportedly served as the minister’s personal assistant for nine years, making the alleged decision to terminate his services a significant development within Ablakwa’s immediate office.
If confirmed, the dismissals could raise questions about the circumstances under which the alleged information was disclosed, the nature of the information involved and whether any internal inquiry was conducted before the decision was taken.
However, the available accoun does not provide a detailed explanation of the specific information the two individuals allegedly leaked, the evidence supporting the accusation or whether they were given an opportunity to respond.
It is also unclear whether the reported dismissals were directly connected to the allegations involving Aikins and the US$10,000 payment or whether the developments concern separate incidents arising from the same controversy.
Until further details emerge, the claims surrounding the three individuals should be treated separately rather than taken as evidence of a coordinated scheme or established misconduct.
The developments come at a sensitive time for the Foreign Affairs Ministry, which is facing sustained pressure to account for the funds used in the evacuation exercise.
JoyNews Investigation Raises Questions About Evacuation Records
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reported spending GH¢49.72 million on the evacuation of 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa following xenophobic attacks.
The expenditure reportedly included GH¢10.8 million allocated for reintegration assistance and transportation allowances, as well as GH¢27.18 million in reported charter-flight costs.
The controversy intensified after JoyNews Research examined a 177-page document containing records submitted by the ministry and identified inconsistencies in some of the entries used to account for payments to evacuees.
Among the concerns reported were missing signatures or verification marks, questionable date entries and instances in which multiple evacuees appeared to have been linked to the same passport number.
In a sample of 220 entries cited in reports on the investigation, 44 reportedly lacked signatures or clear verification marks confirming receipt of allowances. The records also reportedly contained an instance in which nine evacuees were associated with an identical passport number.
These findings have prompted questions about the systems used to register evacuees, verify their identities and document payments.
However, discrepancies in administrative records do not, by themselves, prove that funds were stolen, that payments were not made or that the listed recipients were fictitious.
The Ghana High Commission in Pretoria has previously acknowledged clerical errors affecting some records. It explained that certain dates interpreted as dates of birth were actually passport expiry dates. The commission also reportedly explained that six members of the Jibril family travelled using Emergency Travel Certificates.
Those explanations are relevant to the assessment of the documents, although questions about the accuracy and completeness of the expenditure records remain central to the public debate.
Ablakwa Insists No Public Money Is Missing
Ablakwa has strongly rejected allegations that money was misappropriated during the evacuation exercise.
Appearing on JoyNews’ Newsfile, the minister insisted that the expenditure had been properly accounted for, declaring that “not a cedi, not a pesewa is missing.”
He maintained that the evacuees received their prescribed allowances, including GH¢5,000 in reintegration assistance and GH¢500 for transportation, and challenged critics to identify anyone who had been denied the money.
The minister has also argued that the ministry’s records support its explanation of the expenditure and has described the accusations against his office as politically motivated.
The opposition, however, maintains that the existence of a payment register is not sufficient to resolve all the questions raised by the investigation. It argues that the records must be supported by original documents demonstrating that the payments were made to the appropriate beneficiaries and that the reported costs reflect the services actually provided.
The dispute has consequently shifted beyond whether the ministry has produced records to whether those records can be independently verified against original financial and contractual documents.
NPP Minority Demands Original Contracts and Independent Scrutiny
The NPP Minority has intensified its demands for greater transparency, calling on Ablakwa and the Foreign Affairs Ministry to release the original documents relating to the evacuation exercise.
The requested records include charter-flight contracts, airline invoices, payment vouchers and detailed expenditure schedules showing how the GH¢49.72 million was spent.
The Minority argues that the documents are necessary to establish the actual cost of the operation, determine whether the payments correspond with the services delivered and address concerns arising from the reported discrepancies.
The reported involvement of Your Cruise People in negotiations connected to the charter flights has added to the significance of the demand for procurement and payment records.
The opposition’s position is that the ministry should provide documentary evidence that can be independently examined rather than relying solely on public assurances that all expenditure has been accounted for.
Ablakwa, on the other hand, maintains that no money is missing and that the evacuees received their allowances.
