The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has disclosed that it is investigating the GH¢49.7 million expenditure by the government on evacuating Ghanaians from South Africa following xenophobic attacks in the country.

In a statement on its website on Monday, November 9, 2026, the OSP said that the investigation is expected to establish whether public funds used for the exercise were properly spent and whether any individuals benefited from payments that were not meant for them.

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The evacuation, which took place between May 27 and September 4, 2026, involved 1,964 Ghanaians who were brought home following attacks and threats against foreign nationals.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported spending GH¢49,721,786 on the exercise, with the amount covering flight arrangements, transportation, accommodation, feeding, medical care and reintegration support for the returnees.

However, the OSP says it has identified issues in the expenditure and payment records that require further examination.

Among the concerns are duplicate entries, missing or inadequate supporting documents, and payments recorded in the names of beneficiaries who say they never received the money.

“The Office is examining alleged discrepancies between reported expenditure and payment records, including duplicate entries, inadequate supporting documents and payments recorded against beneficiaries who say they did not receive them,” the OSP stated.

The OSP also said that the investigation will determine who received the money and whether public officials or private individuals improperly benefited from the expenditure.

“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,” it added.

The OSP has, however, made a distinction between its investigation and the government's decision to bring Ghanaians home during the xenophobic attacks.

It stressed that the focus was on possible financial misconduct in the handling of public funds.

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“The investigation concerns the management of public funds, not the Government’s humanitarian decision to evacuate its citizens,” the Office clarified.

The OSP stressed that all persons connected to the matter are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

MAG/EA

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