'Yegye yen sika!'- Okudzeto Ablakwa faces Ghanaian diasporan over evacuation saga
Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has come under fierce criticism from angry Ghanaians in Ottawa, Canada, following his response to the controversy surrounding the evacuation of Ghanaian nationals from South Africa.
The minister, who is currently in Canada on an official visit, faced a hostile reception when he met members of the Ghanaian community in Ottawa.
Some Ghanaians who had travelled from different parts of Canada gathered to demand accountability over the alleged financial irregularities surrounding the evacuation exercise.
The High Commission had previously circulated a letter to the Ghanaian community in Canada inviting them to meet the minister in Ottawa on Sunday, 25th October.
Tensions flared when Mr Ablakwa sought to distance himself personally from the financial arrangements associated with the operation, explaining that he was not directly involved in every aspect of the transactions but had a responsibility to protect the hardworking public servants at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
His explanation, however, appeared to do little to calm the agitated audience, with several attendees expressing anger and frustration over what they perceived as an attempt to evade responsibility for the controversy.
The minister was met with hoots, shouts and demands for a proper account of the funds involved in the evacuation exercise.
Some demonstrators held placards bearing the words “Yɛgye Yɛn Sika” and “Bring Back Our Money,” signalling their demand for transparency and accountability.
The confrontation has also revived questions about Mr Ablakwa’s own record of criticism of the previous administration led by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, particularly over presidential travel expenditure and the use of public funds.
Critics argue that a public official who previously demanded strict accountability from political opponents must be prepared to submit to the same standards when questions arise under his watch.
The controversy has consequently placed the Foreign Affairs Minister under mounting pressure to provide satisfactory explanations regarding the evacuation arrangements, the financial decisions taken and the extent of his oversight responsibilities.
For the Ghanaians who confronted him in Ottawa, assurances that he was not personally involved in every financial transaction were apparently insufficient.
Their central demand was for clear answers, transparent accounting and accountability for any wrongdoing established.
The incident underscores the growing public expectation that officials entrusted with public resources must be prepared to answer difficult questions, particularly when allegations of financial impropriety emerge.
As the controversy continues to attract attention, the minister’s response to the concerns raised in Ottawa could prove crucial in determining whether he can restore confidence in the handling of the evacuation exercise.
The concerns raised in Ottawa also reflect wider questions about the evacuation exercise, including the number of people evacuated, the costs incurred, the companies or individuals involved in arranging the operation and the procedures used to approve and account for the expenditure.
Members of the diaspora called for relevant documents and a clear breakdown of the funds to be made available so that the public can independently assess how the money was used.
The minister’s position that he was not personally involved in every transaction has therefore not ended the debate. Instead, it has intensified calls for an institutional explanation showing who authorised the payments, who supervised the arrangements and what checks were in place to prevent the occurrence.
Source: Opare Dawuro, Contributor
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