Questions have been raised about the accuracy of data released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa after several records reportedly showed impossible dates of birth, including years that are yet to come.
At least 14 names with seemingly inconsistent personal details have reportedly been identified in the records, according to a Joy News report published on October 19, 2026.
The discrepancies have added to growing scrutiny of the evacuation exercise, which has become a subject of controversy following demands by the Minority in Parliament for a detailed breakdown of the number of returnees and the cost of bringing them home.
Records show future birth dates
Among the entries highlighted in the report is one for Precious Sekyiwaa, whose date of birth is recorded as October 28, 2034.
Another listed returnee, James Akoto Baffour, is recorded as having been born on December 26, 2036, while Victoria Aduakwa’s year of birth is also captured as 2034.
In another case, Ebenezer Losu’s year of birth appears in the records as 20232, raising further questions about the accuracy of the information.
The report also identified entries containing dates that are impossible under the calendar. David Botwey, for instance, is listed as having been born on the fourth day of the 24th month of 1989, although a year has only 12 months.
Another record reportedly gives an evacuee’s date of birth as February 31, 1990, despite February having only 28 days in a common year and 29 in a leap year.
Questions over accuracy of evacuation records
The inconsistencies have prompted questions about how the information was collected, entered and checked before the data was released publicly.
It remains unclear from the reported discrepancies whether the entries resulted from typographical errors, mistakes during data entry or wider weaknesses in the management of the records.
The reported errors have also raised concerns about the reliability of the figures being used to account for the evacuation exercise.
However, the discrepancies alone do not establish how they occurred or whether they affected the overall number of Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa.
GH¢49.7 million cost faces scrutiny
The controversy comes amid growing questions about the reported GH¢49.7 million spent by the government on the evacuation.
The Minority in Parliament has called for a full account of the exercise, including details of the number of people brought back to Ghana and the expenditure involved.
The latest concerns over the personal details in the ministry’s data could intensify calls for the records to be reviewed and the inconsistencies explained.
A clear account of how the errors occurred, whether the affected entries have been corrected and how the evacuation figures were verified would help address questions surrounding the exercise.
For now, the reported irregularities have put the accuracy of the published data under scrutiny, while questions about the total cost and administration of the evacuation remain part of the wider debate.
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