The Minority in Parliament has questioned how reintegration grants were handled for 442 minors listed in records relating to Ghana’s evacuation exercise in South Africa.
The Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, raised the concern at a press conference while presenting the Minority’s findings from documents obtained from Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa through a Right to Information (RTI) request.
According to Mr Ayeh, the reintegration payment register contains the names of 442 minors. This has led the Minority to ask for details on how the money meant for the children was paid.
The Minority wants the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to clarify whether the grants were paid directly to the children or given to their parents or guardians on their behalf. It is also seeking information on the measures put in place to ensure the money reached the intended beneficiaries.
The issue is part of the Minority’s wider review of documents relating to the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa.
“Of the 1,508 persons, we counted 442 minors. Some of them were born on 2nd February, 2026. Some of them were born on 2025, 2026, 2022, 2023. We could count 442 minors. Now, the minister’s response nowhere stated where these 442 children were paid the same 5,000 reintegration grant and 500 transportation package allowance as the adults too were paid.
“Whether the sum were paid to them directly or to their parent or to their guidance on their behalf, or what safeguarding arrangement, if any, attended the handling of cash payment involving children. This is not trivial oversight,” Mr Ayeh stated.
The Minority is calling for more information from the Ministry to explain how the payments recorded in the documents were managed and accounted for.
It says clarifying how the grants for the 442 minors were handled is important to ensure transparency and establish whether the funds reached the intended beneficiaries.
