The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has accused the Minority in Parliament of refusing opportunities to seek clarification on documents relating to the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa before publicly demanding the resignation of Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
According to the Ministry’s Media Relations Officer, Fred Duhoe, the Minister extended invitations to members of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, including both the Majority and Minority, to explain the financial and administrative records associated with the exercise.
However, he said the Minority declined the invitations, insisting that it would rely on documents requested under the Right to Information Act.
Speaking in an interview with Sena Nombo on Radio Gold , Mr Duhoe explained that the Ministry had offered to clarify the records even before responding formally to the Minority’s information request.
“The minister saw the need that, okay, you are requesting for an RTI. But here, let me explain issues to all the parties, the majority and the minority,” he recounted.
He maintained that the Ministry subsequently provided the requested documents and renewed the invitation for further engagement, but the Minority proceeded to analyse the records independently and present its findings to the media.
Mr Duhoe questioned why the Minority did not first seek explanations from the institution that prepared the documents, particularly when the records involved extensive financial transactions and beneficiary information.
He argued that standard auditing procedures require investigators to obtain clarification from the institution under examination before reaching conclusions about possible irregularities.
“Even auditors who audit institutions and individuals who are conversant with figures, which is their daily meal, these people, when they go to any institution to interrogate them, to audit their books, these institutions as a matter of principle and standard would ask questions,” he stated.
His comments follow the Minority’s demand on Tuesday, October 27, for Mr Ablakwa to resign immediately over alleged irregularities in the GH¢49.72 million evacuation exercise.
The Minority, led by the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, has also called on President John Dramani Mahama to dismiss the Minister if he refuses to resign.
The caucus has threatened to initiate parliamentary censure proceedings if its demands are not met.
Mr Duhoe maintained that the Minister had demonstrated a commitment to transparency by voluntarily accounting for the evacuation expenditure at a press conference on September 7, before the Minority requested additional information.
He insisted that the Ministry remained prepared to provide explanations for any legitimate concerns arising from the documents.
