Parliament was abuzz on Tuesday, October 27, as the Minority Caucus called for the immediate resignation of Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa. The demand follows allegations that some Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa received less than the GH¢5,500 support package promised by the government.
Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, addressed the press and urged the government to commission an independent audit by an internationally reputable accounting firm. The audit, he said, was necessary to establish the facts surrounding reports that at least three evacuees received only GH¢2,000, far below the announced amount.
“Given the gravity of these revelations and in order to ensure an impartial investigation into the matter, we call on the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Honourable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, to resign immediately. His handling of this exercise has brought his high office into disrepute,” Jinapor declared.
Quoting Section 2.1(j) of President John Dramani Mahama’s 2025 Code of Conduct and Ethics for Political Appointees, Jinapor insisted the minister must accept responsibility for any significant failure or breach of public trust. He further called on President Mahama to remove Ablakwa from office if he refuses to step down, citing Article 81(a) of the 1992 Constitution.
“The President must demonstrate that the standards he has set for his appointees have consequences when public confidence in their stewardship has been seriously undermined,” Jinapor added.
The Minority also threatened to initiate a parliamentary vote of censure against Ablakwa under Article 82 of the Constitution and Order 138 of Parliament’s Standing Orders if he remains in office. Such a motion would require the support of at least two-thirds of all Members of Parliament to pass, compelling the president to revoke the minister’s appointment unless he resigns voluntarily.
Responding to the allegations, Minister Ablakwa has strongly denied any payment shortfalls. Speaking to the Ghanaian community in Ottawa, Canada, he maintained that all evacuees, adults and minors—received the full GH¢5,000 reintegration support package and an additional GH¢500 for transportation. He also stated that since the evacuation began more than four months ago, his ministry had not received any formal complaints or reports of missing payments.
As the debate intensifies, all eyes are on Parliament and the presidency to see how the matter will be resolved, and whether the threatened vote of censure will materialise if Minister Ablakwa remains in office.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com