‘Stop the distractions’ – Akosua Manu demands answers over GH¢49.7m South Africa evacuation cost

Akosua Manu, an advisor to NPP flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has demanded answers to questions surrounding Ghana’s GH¢49.7 million South Africa evacuation exercise, warning against shifting the public debate towards political disagreements over service passports.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, October 13, Ms Manu said the public deserved a transparent account of the expenditure, particularly in light of concerns about payment registers, alleged ghost names and discrepancies in flight records.

She described the development as “an insult to the intelligence of Ghanaians”, arguing that allegations concerning Nana Boakye’s service passport did not address the substance of the financial questions.

Ms Manu’s comments come amid a public disagreement involving the Majority on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Committee and its Deputy Ranking Member, Nana Asafo-Ayeh, over criticism of Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

The Majority has accused Mr Asafo-Ayeh of pursuing a campaign of “character assassination” against the Minister. It claims the tension stems from Mr Ablakwa’s refusal to grant a service passport to Nana Boakye, popularly known as Nana B, a former NPP National Youth Organiser and now NPP 2nd Vice Chairman and former Board Chairman of the National Food Buffer Stock Company.

According to the Majority, the Minister acted in accordance with a presidential directive requiring holders of diplomatic and service passports to return them.

Salaga South MP Zuwera Ibrahimah Mohammed has defended the Minister’s position, arguing that public officials must operate within the law when dealing with requests for favours.

Ms Manu, however, insists that the passport controversy must not displace scrutiny of the evacuation expenditure.

She maintains that the records should be made available for proper examination so the public can establish how the funds were used.

“If there is nothing to hide, an independent audit should be welcomed,” she said, renewing her call for accountability and insisting that the documents should provide the answers Ghanaians seek.

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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.