The New Patriotic Party (NPP) today took to the streets of Accra with its ‘Yɛ Gye Yɛn Sika’ demonstration, demanding accountability and transparency over the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa.
The demonstrators converged at Spanner Junction and marched through the principal streets of Accra to the Jubilee House, where they were received by Deputy Presidential Spokesperson, Shamima Muslim.
They accused the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, of incompetently managing the financial arrangements surrounding the evacuation exercise.
Presenting a petition on behalf of the party, NPP National Youth Organiser, Abanga Fuseini Yakubu, demanded that government responds within 14 days, insisting that the Foreign Affairs Minister resigns or be dismissed.
He also called on the President to instruct the Attorney-General to investigate the evacuation brouhaha and demanded the publication of original flight invoices, contracts and names of all intermediaries involved.
Other demands included the publication of the passenger beneficiary list and an independent audit of evacuation spending.
“This is the first time we are experiencing a minister who is into propaganda rather than diplomacy,” NPP MP for Bosome Freho, Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, criticised Ablakwa over alleged lapses in the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa.
Former Ashanti Regional Communications Director of the NPP, Paul Yandoh, also expressed frustration over the cost involved, saying “The cost of the South Africa evacuation was too much.”
“Ghanaians in South Africa were in trouble and needed help, we didn’t ask government to profit from their situation,” added Dr. Ayew Afriyie.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
