Data released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa includes several inconsistencies about the birth dates of some evacuees.
The discrepancies have emerged amid growing scrutiny of the exercise, following calls by the Minority in Parliament for a detailed account of the number of people evacuated and the reported GH¢49.7 million spent on the operation.
According to a Joy News report on October 19, 2026, at least 14 names in the documents contain seemingly impossible dates of birth, raising questions about the accuracy of the records submitted by the ministry.
One of the individuals listed, footballer James Akoto Baffour, is recorded as having been born on December 26, 2036. Victoria Aduakwa’s year of birth is listed as 2034, while Ebenezer Losu and Akua Brefo are recorded as having been born in 2032 and 2031, respectively.
Other entries contain dates that are impossible under the calendar. David Botwey is listed as having been born on the fourth day of the 24th month in 1989, while another evacuee’s date of birth is recorded as February 31, 1990.
The irregularities have raised questions about whether the records contain data-entry errors or point to wider problems in the management of the evacuation exercise.
Joy News also reported that at least 44 evacuees who did not sign the relevant documents were listed as having received reintegration and transportation payments.
The findings have added to calls for greater scrutiny of the ministry’s records, particularly as the Minority seeks clarification on the number of beneficiaries and the expenditure associated with the evacuation.
