Ghana awaits South Africa's approval for second batch of Ghanaian evacuations
via GhanaWeb3 min read
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, announced that Ghana is awaiting flight permits from South African authorities to evacuate a second group of Ghanaians following recent xenophobic attacks. All arrangements are complete, and Ghana is only waiting for approval for chartered aircraft. Ablakwa stated that the number of Ghanaians seeking evacuation continues to rise, now exceeding 900, up from an initial 600-800. President John Dramani Mahama has directed that no Ghanaian in distress should be left behind, emphasizing a foreign policy of compassion. Ablakwa also clarified that the majority of Ghanaians registered for evacuation are legal residents, refuting claims of illegal migration or criminal activity. He noted that the registration process is conducted in collaboration with South Africa's Department of Home Affairs, and no registered Ghanaian has been identified as a person of interest to South African authorities.
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President John Dramani Mahama has lauded Minister of Foreign Affairs and North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa as one of his administration's top performers. Speaking during his Resetting Ghana Tour in the Volta Region on July 16, 2026, President Mahama described Ablakwa as among his hardest-working ministers, crediting him with many of Ghana鈥檚 diplomatic successes. He highlighted Ablakwa's commitment to national service and his focus on the development of the North Tongu constituency. The President attributed much of his international recognition to the Foreign Affairs Minister's efforts, citing Ghana鈥檚 successful campaign for a United Nations resolution on reparations as a prime example, noting Ablakwa personally led diplomatic engagements to secure international backing for the initiative.
Must ReadGhanaian TikToker Camilla Alhassan has been sentenced to one year in prison by the Accra Circuit Court after pleading guilty to charges of offensive conduct and publishing false news. The ruling was delivered on July 16, 2026, following her admission that she shared videos falsely alleging that President John Dramani Mahama buried 32 cows as part of rituals for the 2024 general election. Her lawyer, Kwadwo Gyamfi Bonsu, stated that the court dismissed the charge of electronic abuse due to lack of jurisdiction. However, she was found guilty of offensive conduct and publishing false news. The court imposed the one-year sentence, emphasizing the need for a deterrent given the increasing number of similar cases, despite the defense's plea for leniency. Camilla's arrest and prosecution followed the circulation of the videos on social media, and she was directed to undergo a pregnancy test before sentencing.
The Controller and Accountant-General鈥檚 Department CAGD has refuted social media claims that the government has spent nearly GH垄11 billion on the Accra-Kumasi Expressway project. The CAGD explained that the transfer of funds from the Consolidated Fund to Accra-Kumasi Expressway Limited, a Special Purpose Vehicle SPV established through the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund GIIF, represents a standard accounting procedure. This transfer is recorded as Grant Expenditure by the Central Government and as Grant Revenue by the receiving entity, which is classified as a State-Owned Enterprise SOE. The Department emphasized that the money, earmarked from the Annual Budget Funding Amount ABFA and mineral royalties, remains in a dedicated Bank of Ghana account and has not been used for construction or paid to contractors. The CAGD clarified that the ongoing right-of-way clearing by the Ghana Armed Forces is a separate, preparatory exercise not funded by these project-specific funds. The Department urged the public not to misinterpret the accounting entry as actual expenditure on construction, affirming that the process aligns with Ghana鈥檚 Public Financial Management framework and established government accounting standards.