Michael Addo, a representative of Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa following xenophobic attacks, has alleged that some members of the group were contacted and coached by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) to make statements criticising the government’s support package for returnees.
Addressing the media on Monday, October 26, Mr Addo said the evacuees were committed to speaking the truth regardless of their political affiliations, insisting that partisan interests would not influence their accounts of the assistance they received.
“We are aware that some members of our group have received calls and coaching to speak against the government, but our conscience will not allow us to do so, even if we support the opposition party rather than the government of the day,” he said.
The group also rejected claims that some returnees received only GH¢500 in transportation assistance, while others received only the GH¢5,000 reintegration allowance.
Mr Addo maintained that all the evacuees received the full GH¢5,500 package, comprising GH¢5,000 in reintegration assistance and GH¢500 for transportation, on their respective dates of arrival in Ghana.
“It is only fair that we state the facts and refuse to allow petty politics to make us liars. The claims that some people received only the GH¢500 transportation allowance while others received only the GH¢5,000 reintegration allowance are all false. We want to state for the record that we all received the package on our respective dates of arrival,” he said.
The allegations come amid public debate over the financial assistance provided to Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa following xenophobic attacks.
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has also dismissed allegations that some returnees received less than the GH¢5,500 package announced by the government.
He maintained that all 1,000 Ghanaians on the evacuation list, including minors, received the full amount. He added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had not received any complaints about alleged payment shortfalls.
Story by Freedom Etsey Lavoe