Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee has postponed a planned briefing by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, after the Minority refused to attend the meeting.

Speaking on Citi News on September 16, 2026, the Chairman of the committee, Dr Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, said the Minority's decision prompted him to reschedule the meeting to allow all members of the House to participate.

“We scheduled a meeting for the Minister to come and brief the committee. Unfortunately, the Minority decided that they will not be participating. I, as chair, decided that we must do whatever it takes to have all the committee members be part of the meeting with the Minister,” he said.

According to Dr Vanderpuije, Ablakwa is ready to provide the information requested by the Minority, including details of the expenditure on the evacuation exercise.

“So, the Minister is totally committed to providing whatever information the Minority needs. And he will do the same. If we had had the meeting, he was coming to give us some level of information. The whole exercise of the evacuation, what cost went into it and where we are,” he stated.

He explained that the evacuation exercise was still ongoing when the Minority first requested the information, but the Minister can now provide a full account because the exercise has been completed.

“At the time when I believe the Minority was asking for the information, the exercise was not over. Now it is over. So, the minister is committed to providing the information,” he added.

Dr Vanderpuije said he would continue to work towards cooperation among members of the committee as it considers the matter.

The development follows calls by the Minority for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide an itemized account of the GH¢49.7 million reportedly spent on the evacuation and reintegration of Ghanaians from South Africa.

The Minority has said that it wants the Minister to provide a detailed record on the nearly GH¢50 million spent on the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa before participating in the briefing.

JKB/EB

Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee has postponed a planned briefing by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, after the Minority refused to attend the meeting.

Speaking on Citi News on September 16, 2026, Chairman of the committee, Dr Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, said the Minority's decision prompted him to rescheduled the meeting to allow all members of the House to participate.

“We scheduled a meeting for the Minister to come and brief the committee. Unfortunately, the Minority decided that they will not be participating. I, as chair, decided that we must do whatever it takes to have all the committee members be part of the meeting with the Minister,” he said.

According to Dr Vanderpuije, Ablakwa is ready to provide the information requested by the Minority, including details of the expenditure on the evacuation exercise.

“So, the Minister is totally committed to providing whatever information the Minority needs. And he will do same. If we had had the meeting, he was coming to give us some level of information. The whole exercise of the evacuation, what cost went into it and where we are,” he stated.

Stranded Ghanaians in South Africa beg government to extend evacuation

He explained that the evacuation exercise was still ongoing when the Minority first requested the information, but the Minister can now provide a full account because the exercise has been completed.

“At the time when I believe the Minority was asking for the information, the exercise was not over. Now it is over. So, the minister is committed to providing the information,” he added.

Dr Vanderpuije said he would continue to work towards cooperation among members of the committee as it considers the matter.

The development follows calls by the Minority for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide an itemized account of the GH¢49.7 million reportedly spent on the evacuation and reintegration of Ghanaians from South Africa.

The Minority has said that it wants the Minister to provide a detailed record on the nearly GH¢50 million spent on the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa before participating in the briefing.

JKB/EB

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