Ghana’s expenditure on infrastructure for the 13th African Games has come under intense scrutiny after the Auditor-General’s report identified millions of dollars and cedis in ques
The report indicates that a forensic audit of Ghana’s organisation of African Games 2023 has indicated that the country spent in excess of $40 million on avoidable cost.
It further notes that the audit, which was commissioned by President Mahama last year and sighted by Joy Sports detailed the country’s expenses for the competition that began late February 2024 and ended on mid-March same year.
The report identified millions of dollars and cedis in questionable claims, inflated rates, omitted works and avoidable costs across several projects.
The comprehensive audit into facilities constructed and refurbished for the Games highlighted what it described as “opportunity costs”, irregular variations and inconsistencies in Bills of Quantities (BoQs), particularly at the Borteyman Sports Complex, University of Ghana Stadium, Games Village hostels, cricket facilities and access roads.
According to the report, the biggest red flag emerged from the Borteyman Sports Complex project, where auditors estimated a net omission and “opportunity cost for scope shrinkage” of $34.43 million from the original contract value of $145.09 million.
The Audit Service stated several major components initially captured in the contract were either omitted entirely or significantly rescoped. These included:
Warm-up football field – $3.213 million omitted
Multipurpose hall conversion into lecture halls – $3.06 million omitted
Single-lane access road – USD 11.22 million omitted
Double-lane access road – $11.22 million omitted
Concrete sidewalks and children’s playground – reduced by $2.014 million
Equipment installations including CCTV, irrigation and security systems – reduced by $1.6 million
Despite the scope reductions, auditors noted that consultant supervision fees increased from 3 per cent to 3.83 per cent after the rescoping exercise.
At the University of Ghana Stadium project, the Audit Service flagged claims amounting to $2.814 million as opportunity costs arising from variations and delays.
