Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, says Ghana spent more than GHC 53 million in evacuating stranded Ghanaians during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The amount covered airfare, quarantine, food and insurance. The Minister made the disclosure in an answer to questions by MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
According to her, although 10,025 Ghanaians were stranded, government spent on only the vulnerable among them constituting about five thousand during the evacuation period between 23rd May and 18th September last year.
In another development, Madam Ayorkor Botchwey says she cannot explain why Ghana has not been able to secure Sputnik V vaccines directly from Russia through diplomatic engagements.
According to the Minister, every effort has been made but all yielded no fruit.
Answering questions from MP for Juaboso Kwabena Minta Akandoh, Madam Ayorkor Botchwey said her last correspondence with the Russian authority over the matter is yet to receive feedback.
