NDC Scribe Blasts Minority, ‘Multi-Media’

Over Ablakwa Evacuation Allegations

By Gifty Boateng

The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, has launched a scathing attack on the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority in Parliament and the Multimedia Group over allegations of discrepancies in the government’s evacuation exercise involving Ghanaians stranded in South Africa.

Kwetey dismissed claims that some evacuees were shortchanged in the financial support provided by the government, describing the allegations as baseless and part of what he believes is an attempt to discredit the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

He also criticised Joy FM and Joy News for their involvement in the controversy, questioning why the media organisation would contact evacuees several months after the exercise to establish whether they received the full amount of money allegedly paid to them.

Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express, the NDC General Secretary expressed disappointment that the media organisation had become part of what he described as an attempt to manufacture a scandal against the Foreign Affairs Minister.

“Sadly, I mean, your own station also took part in that. The thing is that calling people four months after they have pocketed the money and asking them, ‘Did you collect the money?’ I mean, how ridiculous can that be?” he queried.

Kwetey insisted that the affected Ghanaians received GH¢5,000 each, with an additional GH¢500, and questioned why anyone who allegedly received less than the promised amount would wait several months before raising concerns.

He argued that the absence of immediate complaints following the payments weakened the credibility of the allegations.

According to him, evacuees who genuinely believed they had been shortchanged should have raised the matter at the airport or within days and weeks after receiving the money rather than waiting four months.

The NDC scribe went further to describe individuals allegedly collaborating in the claims as “crooks,” insisting that the controversy was being exploited for political purposes.

“And anybody who actually collaborates with that is a crook as well. Only crooks do that,” he said.

Kwetey also accused the NPP of failing to provide credible evidence to substantiate its allegations against Ablakwa, contrasting the current controversy with disclosures the Foreign Affairs Minister made while in opposition.

He argued that when Ablakwa exposed alleged wrongdoing under the previous NPP administration, he presented what he described as authentic documents and concrete evidence rather than relying on unsubstantiated claims.

“What is Okudzeto’s crime? The fact that he literally exposed wrongdoing. Of course, he’s targeted,” he stated.

He further questioned whether the NPP had produced comparable documentary evidence to support its allegations, describing the Minority’s actions as politically motivated.

Kwetey also accused the opposition party of engaging in what he termed scandal-hunting, arguing that it appeared determined to find wrongdoing in the current administration even where none had been established.

Drawing on his experience as a former Member of Parliament and Ranking Member on Parliament’s Trade and Industry Committee during the NPP administration, he said he once left the position because of pressure to constantly search for scandals against the government.

He explained that he disagreed with the expectation that opposition politicians must find wrongdoing at all costs, even when there was no genuine basis for such allegations.

According to him, politicians should speak out when there is credible evidence of misconduct rather than manufacture controversies for political advantage.

“If there’s something genuinely wrong, I will speak. I’m not going to be fishing for scandal for the sake of it,” he stressed.

Kwetey said the NPP should reflect on its defeat in the 2024 general elections and recognise that Ghanaians expect a more constructive and evidence-based opposition.

He maintained that the party’s continued focus on what he described as cheap political attacks would do little to restore public confidence after its eight years in government.

He also criticised the NPP Youth Wing’s ‘Ye gye ye sika’ demonstrations over the South Africa evacuation controversy, questioning what evidence it had established against the Foreign Affairs Minister.

“It’s a total joke to go and do demonstration on the back of what? What have you been able to establish against the Foreign Minister? How much money? You can’t prove one,” he said.

Kwetey urged the opposition to focus on issues of substance instead of pursuing allegations he believes are intended to tarnish the reputation of government officials.

The controversy follows allegations of discrepancies in the government’s expenditure on the evacuation and resettlement of Ghanaians affected by xenophobic attacks in South Africa, with the Minority and sections of the media raising questions about the payments made to some returnees.

Ablakwa has come under scrutiny over the GH¢49.72 million expenditure reportedly incurred in evacuating 1,964 Ghanaians and providing support following their return.

The NPP Minority has raised concerns about alleged discrepancies in the evacuation expenditure and claims that some returnees did not receive their full support payments. The party has demanded further accountability from the Foreign Affairs Ministry, while Kwetey has dismissed the allegations as an attempt to manufacture a scandal against Ablakwa.

Ablakwa, in the spirit of transparency and accountability, has provided documents to show that there is no basis for the allegations against him. He has further requested the Auditor General to conduct a special audit on the exercise and others dating back to 2017.