Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released a detailed breakdown of expenditure on the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa, revealing that GH¢27.18 million was spent on chartered flights alone.

The chartered flights represented the largest single expenditure in the GH¢49.72 million operation, which brought 1,964 Ghanaians back to the country between May 27 and September 4, 2026.

The figures are contained in documents released by the Ministry in response to a Right to Information request submitted by the Minority in Parliament.

The disclosure provides further details about how money was spent during the emergency operation following renewed xenophobic attacks and anti foreigner tensions in parts of South Africa.

MORE THAN GH¢36 MILLION SPENT ON AIR TRANSPORT

According to the expenditure breakdown, GH¢27,183,700 was spent specifically on chartered flights.

Another GH¢9,420,463.68 was spent on commercial flight tickets and layover expenses.

Together, those two categories brought expenditure directly related to air transportation to more than GH¢36.6 million.

The figures show that transporting the evacuees by air accounted for the majority of the overall cost of the operation.

GH¢10.8 MILLION SPENT ON RETURNEE SUPPORT

The government also spent GH¢10.802 million on reintegration and transportation allowances for those evacuated.

Each returnee received a GH¢5,000 reintegration grant and GH¢500 for transportation, bringing the financial support provided to each person to GH¢5,500.

According to the government, the assistance was intended to provide immediate support to the returnees and help them resettle after arriving in Ghana.

Evacuees were also provided with medical screening, National Health Insurance registration, food packages and SIM cards with airtime and data.

Psychosocial assistance was provided with support from organisations including the International Organization for Migration, the National Disaster Management Organisation and the Ghana Red Cross Society.

GOVERNMENT DETAILS OTHER EXPENSES

The financial records show that GH¢997,644 was spent on ground transportation in South Africa.

Feeding cost GH¢634,349.99, while hotel accommodation accounted for GH¢141,797.86.

Medical services and hospitalisation cost GH¢20,148.

Communication expenses amounted to GH¢153,728.09, covering services including airtime, internet data and the establishment of an evacuation centre.

Printing expenses totalled GH¢98,151, while GH¢162,917.76 was spent on logistics associated with screening, sanitation and other operational requirements.

The repatriation and autopsies of two deceased Ghanaian nationals cost GH¢84,274.

Another GH¢22,610.84 was listed as miscellaneous expenditure.

GOVERNMENT FINANCED GH¢33.72 MILLION

The Government of Ghana provided GH¢33,721,786 towards the evacuation operation.

Engineers and Planners, a company owned by businessman Ibrahim Mahama, contributed an additional GH¢16 million.

The government says the entire evacuation bill has been settled and there are no outstanding liabilities associated with the exercise.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry has also requested a special audit of government funded evacuation exercises undertaken since 2017, including operations connected to the COVID 19 pandemic and crises in Ukraine, Sudan and South Africa.

EVACUATION BROUGHT HOME 1,964 GHANAIANS

The evacuation began on May 27 following security concerns and renewed anti foreigner sentiment in parts of South Africa.

Initial flights prioritised vulnerable Ghanaians, including children, older people, women and people requiring medical assistance.

The final group of 41 evacuees arrived in Accra on September 4, bringing the operation to an end.

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has said the evacuation was undertaken to protect Ghanaian citizens facing potentially dangerous conditions abroad.

EXPENDITURE UNDER PUBLIC SCRUTINY

The release of the detailed expenditure follows calls for greater transparency over the cost of the evacuation.

The Minority in Parliament had requested supporting documentation through the Right to Information process as part of its scrutiny of the government's financial account.

The newly released figures provide a more detailed picture of the GH¢49.72 million operation, including the disclosure that chartered flights alone accounted for GH¢27.18 million.

The documents are expected to remain the subject of parliamentary and public scrutiny as questions continue over the management and cost of emergency evacuation operations.