The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has released a detailed account of alleged government expenditures exceeding 160 million Ghana cedis in connection with the 2023 African Games, five months after the event’s conclusion.
The government’s spending on the games, held in Accra in March 2024, has faced significant scrutiny, with the Minority in Parliament repeatedly alleging misappropriation of funds.
Controversy erupted earlier this week when the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, informed the Public Accounts Committee that the government had paid the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) over $3 million to broadcast the games.
However, the GBC Director General subsequently denied receiving such a payment.
Mr. Ablakwa has published a statement on social media, based on “intercepted documents,” which provides further details on the alleged expenditures. The full statement is available for review:
The 13th African Games ended in Accra as far back as March 23, 2024, however, intercepted financial documents reveal that the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government continues to withdraw huge sums of money from our national coffers in the name of the games.
So far, a staggering GH₵168,386,331.00 has been withdrawn in the last few weeks, long after the games.
1) On May 17th, 2024 — GH₵70,000,000.00 was released to the Sports Ministry under a transaction description: Payment for 13th African Games;
2) On July 3rd, 2024 — GH₵30,000,000.00 was released to the Sports Ministry under a transaction description: Payment for 13th African Games;
3) On July 16th, 2024 — GH₵30,000,000.00 was released to the Sports Ministry under a transaction description: Payment for 13th African Games;
4) On July 16, 2024 — Additional same day release of GH₵38,386,331.00 to the Sports Ministry under the transaction description: Payment for 13th African Games.
These bizarre releases continue despite the Finance Ministry already releasing over GH₵460million before the closing ceremony — which is an amount far in excess of what Parliament approved.
The Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government must immediately explain to Ghanaians what these humongous post tournament releases are being used for and exactly when the unending payments will stop.
This haemorrhage cannot continue when many sectors are being starved of resources as economic conditions of Ghanaians deteriorate uncontrollably.
Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif keeps running from parliamentary accountability but let him know that his days are numbered.
