The Auditor-General has recommended recovery of GHC 579 million from three top former officials at the heart of Ghana's organisation of the 13th Africa Games.
The report indicates that the Auditor-General has recommended recovery of GHC 579 million from three top former officials at the heart of Ghana’s organisation of the 13th Africa Games.
It further notes that a forensic audit which was commissioned by President Mahama last year indicated widespread cost inflation, irregular payments, and unsupported expenditure across contracts linked to the event.
Though the Auditor-General did not make any criminal findings, it recommended that former Minister of Sports, Mustapha Ussif, former Chief Director, William Kartey, and former Local Organising Committee (LOC) Chairman, Dr. Kwaku Ofosu-Asare be made to refund the money to the state.
In one instance, the Director-General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, Prof. Amin Alhassan, is also named in relation to a training contract.
Across all flagged transactions, auditors have recommended the recovery of an estimated GHC 579,114,352.24, alongside $44,354,881.77 and €629,070, citing overpricing, unjustified payments, undelivered goods, and contractual variances.
The findings cut across catering, accommodation, transport, equipment procurement, infrastructure, and administrative spending, painting a picture of systemic cost inflation during Ghana’s hosting of the continental multi-sport event.
In virtually every flagged transaction, auditors repeatedly recommend recovery from the same three key figures:
Their names appear in connection with all major cost centres, including catering, logistics, accommodation, equipment procurement, vehicle hiring, branding, infrastructure works, and sponsorship management.
In one case involving broadcast training, Prof. Amin Alhassan is also cited alongside the trio.
Auditors flagged $2,826,540 (GHC33,918,480) in non-feeding costs embedded within a catering contract, including transport, utilities, staffing, infrastructure, and administration—without supporting documentation or justification.
A contract for anti-doping tests was found to be significantly above benchmark WADA laboratory rates, creating an overpricing gap of €572,040 (GHC 8,008,560).
Hotel rooms were reportedly charged at $150 per night, despite market rates ranging between $50 and $70, resulting in an inflated component of $840,000 (GHC10,080,000).
Boxing, triathlon, hockey, and arm wrestling equipment contracts exceeded benchmark prices, with total variance estimated at $322,697.28 (GHC3,872,367.36).
Vehicle-related contracts form one of the largest clusters of irregularities:
