The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that GH¢27,183,700 was spent on chartered flights during the government’s GH¢49.72 million evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa, making air charter costs the single largest expenditure item in the exercise.
This figure represents more than half of the total cost of the operation, which brought 1,964 Ghanaians back to Ghana between May 27 and September 4, 2026.
Documents released by the Ministry in response to a RTI request by the Minority in Parliament show that GH¢27,183,700 was spent on chartered flights, while a further GH¢9,420,463.68 went towards flight tickets and layover expenses. This brought total expenditure directly related to air transportation to more than GH¢36.6 million.
Another major expenditure was GH¢10.802 million in reintegration and transportation allowances. Each evacuee received a GH¢5,000 reintegration grant and a GH¢500 travel and transport allowance, amounting to GH¢5,500 per person.
The government said the payments were intended to help returnees settle after their arrival and provide immediate support following their experiences in South Africa.
Other expenditures included GH¢997,644 for ground transportation in South Africa, GH¢634,349.99 for feeding and GH¢141,797.86 for hotel accommodation.
The operation also spent GH¢20,148 on medical services and hospitalisation and GH¢153,728.09 on communication costs, including airtime, internet data and the establishment of an evacuation centre.
Printing cost GH¢98,151, while GH¢162,917.76 was spent on logistics, including sanitation and screening-related items.
The repatriation and autopsy of two mortal remains cost GH¢84,274, while GH¢22,610.84 was recorded as miscellaneous expenditure.
Returnees also received free medical screening, National Health Insurance registration, SIM cards loaded with data and airtime, and food packages.
The International Organisation for Migration, NADMO and the Red Cross provided psychosocial support, logistics, hot meals and water, while the Church of Pentecost provided accommodation for affected Ghanaians in Pretoria, Kempton Park and Johannesburg.
The Government of Ghana financed GH¢33,721,786, while Engineers and Planners, owned by businessman Ibrahim Mahama, contributed GH¢16 million towards the operation.
The government has said the full evacuation bill has been settled and that there are no outstanding liabilities.
The evacuation began on May 27, with initial flights prioritising vulnerable groups, including children, sick people, older persons and women. The final batch of 41 evacuees arrived in Accra on September 4, bringing the operation to an end.
The government has described the evacuation as an emergency response to deteriorating security conditions and anti-foreigner sentiment in parts of South Africa.
The expenditure breakdown comes as the Minority seeks documentary evidence behind the government’s financial account, while the Foreign Affairs Ministry has requested a special audit of government evacuation exercises from 2017 to date, including the COVID-19, Ukraine, Sudan and South Africa operations.
