The Minority in Parliament has asked about the GH¢5,000 reintegration support given to Ghanaians who were evacuated from South Africa. Newscard
The group says the amount may not be enough to help those people start over again.The Minority says some of the evacuees lost their businesses, jobs and other ways to make money while in South Africa.
These people might take some time getting back normal in Ghana with the current support.The Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee Nana Asafo Adjei Ayeh brought up these worries during a press meeting on Thursday, September 10.
The Minority is asking for information about how the government handled the evacuation.Mr Ayeh said the reintegration help should think about each person’s situation.
He asked if GH¢5,000 could help someone who had a restaurant, a shop or a barbershop in South Africa and had to come to Ghana because of bad events.”If someone had a restaurant a boutique, a barbershop in South Africa. Because of the xenophobic attacks he’s brought back home, you think GH¢5,000 reintegration is reintegration?” he asked.
The Minority is worried that the amount of money given is not matching the problems some people face. For people who ran businesses like restaurants, shops and barbershops coming back to Ghana might mean finding a place to live getting a place to work buying equipment and having money to start again.
The Minority thinks the government’s plan should take all this into account.The issue has also brought up questions about a GH¢20 million offer from MTN Ghana to help the people affected.Mr Ayeh said the money could have helped if the government had taken it.
The Minority is asking why the government turned down the offer especially when some people are struggling with money and jobs after coming from South Africa.Mr Ayeh also asked if the 1,964 people who were brought back from South Africa were asked before the government decided not to take the support. Editorial Standards
He said that asking the people who were evacuated is important because they are the ones who need help. They might have ideas about the kind of help they need to start over.
The Minoritys views are part of a push for more openness about the evacuation. They want details about how much the government spent, what they gave to the people who came back and how they helped them settle again.
The evacuation came after people were worried about the safety of Ghanaians in parts of South Africa because of attacks and problems with people from countries.
For people affected, coming back home is not about getting a ride. Some people left behind businesses things they owned, jobs and friends. Reintegration needs more than bringing people back to Ghana.
They may need help with a place to live, jobs and also starting businesses and getting back to their communities.The Minority thinks these things should be part of the governments plan for support.The GH¢5,000 money has become a topic in the parliament debate.
The Minority says the amount should match the situation of the people getting it not just give the same to everyone.At the time the needs of the people who came back can be very different.
Some may need help while others who had businesses may need more money or help with getting loans and other services to start over.A better plan for reintegration could look at types of people and what they need.
The criticism from the Minority also brings up questions about how Ghana plans for people coming back after problems abroad. Good reintegration programs need to help with problems and also help people get back to working and being independent. Corrections Policy
Mr Ayeh said the government needs to be more clear about the choices made during the evacuation.
He wants answers about why MTN Ghanas offer of GH¢20 million was turned down and if the people affected were asked before the decision was made.
How the government handled the evacuation and the support after is likely to be checked by the parliament as they want to know more about the money used and the help available.
For the people affected the main worry now is how to get to normal life after coming home.The Minority says the support should match the problems people had when they had to leave South Africa not assume that one amount will help everyone.
As the debate goes on openness about the costs of the evacuation the reintegration steps and the help available could make it clearer if the help is enough and what more is needed.
In the end the question from the Minority is not just about how money each person gets but if the whole reintegration plan can help the people who came back, to being financially stable and build a good life in Ghana.