A forensic audit conducted by the Ghana Audit Service into the financial management of the 13th African Games has uncovered payments amounting to more than GH¢15 million for activi
The report indicates that the Auditor-General has directed former Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, former Chief Director of the ministry, William Kartey, and former Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 13th African Games, Dr Kwaku Ofosu-Asare, to refund more than GH¢15 million paid from African Games accounts for expenditures linked to the Black Stars and other activities unrelated to the continental tournament.
It further notes that the directive forms part of findings contained in a comprehensive forensic audit report on the Accra 2023 African Games released on February 26, 2026.
According to the report, the Auditor-General uncovered what it described as “unrelated and irregular payments” amounting to US$487,000 and GH¢9,249,666 from LOC bank accounts established specifically for the organisation and hosting of the African Games.
The total questionable payments stood at GH¢15,093,666.
The report explained that the LOC accounts were created solely to facilitate financial transactions connected to the planning and hosting of the Games.
However, a review of bank statements indicated that substantial payments were made for activities that “could not be directly linked to the LOC’s mandate”.
Among the payments cited were salary advances and other payments made to Black Stars Head Coach Otto Addo, former technical advisor Chris Houghton’s company, assistant coach Joseph Laumann, goalkeeper’s trainer Abdul Fatawu Dauda and former Black Stars assistant coach John Paintsil.
The audit report stated that on May 7, 2024, a payment of US$240,000 was transferred to Otto Addo as advance salary for one year.
On the same date, another US$75,000 was transferred to Houghton Enterprise Limited in London as a three-month salary advance.
Further payments included US$60,000 to Otto Addo as final salary payments covering March to May 2024, and US$30,000 to Joseph Laumann as salary for March to May 2024.
The report also captured transfers to John Paintsil and Abdul Fatawu Dauda.
Additional payments made in September 2024 included US$20,000 to Otto Addo for salary payments, US$10,000 to Joseph Laumann and transfers of US$10,000 and US$3,000 to John Paintsil and Abdul Fatawu Dauda, respectively.
One of the largest transactions flagged in the report was a cash withdrawal of GH¢8,938,950 made on December 22, 2024, in favour of Issah Mahama Amadu for Black Stars-related expenditure.
The report also identified an additional outward transfer of GH¢310,716 to former Black Stars coach, Otto Addo, as a salary payment for August 2024.
