African Games Audit: Mustapha Ussif, 2 Others Surcharged GH¢580m Over Financial Irregularities

The Auditor-General of Ghana has surcharged former Minister for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, and two other former officials over financial irregularities linked to Ghana’s hosting of the 13th African Games to the tune of GH¢580,042,347.40.

The surcharge follows an audit into the expenditure, contract management, and procurement processes related to the continental sporting event hosted by Ghana in 2024. According to the Auditor-General’s findings, the amount represents financial irregularities and liabilities arising from decisions made by the three officials during the planning and execution of the sporting event.

The two other persons named in the audit report are William Kartey, former Chief Director of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and Dr. Kwaku Ofosu-Asare, former Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the event.

The organisation of the Games attracted widespread public attention over concerns about infrastructure costs, procurement processes, and the overall expenditure associated with the event.

Following these concerns, President John Dramani Mahama, upon assuming office in October 2025, directed the Auditor-General to conduct a comprehensive audit into the 13th African Games.

The report revealed that a total of GH¢2,245,515,037.44 was received and spent on the event, leaving liabilities amounting to GH¢208,583,739.49.

“We recommend recovery of the amount from Mustapha Ussif (former Minister of Youth and Sports), William Kartey (former Chief Director) and Dr. Kwaku Ofosu-Asare (former LOC Chairman),” the report stated.

The Auditor-General further recommended that the three officials be sanctioned under Section 92 of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663), as amended.

Under Section 92(1) of the Act, “A person who contravenes a provision of this Act commits an offence and where a penalty is not provided for the offence, that person is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two thousand five hundred penalty units or a term of imprisonment not exceeding five years or both.”

According to Ghana’s financial laws, persons surcharged are required either to refund the disallowed amounts or challenge the decision through the appropriate legal channels.

The audit report highlighted several alleged financial irregularities, including claims of overpricing and questionable payments.

One finding indicated that the Local Organising Committee awarded JDK Travel and Tours a lump-sum contract worth GH¢3,164,828.75 for the branding and de-branding of vehicles. However, market benchmarking reportedly showed the same services should have cost approximately GH¢1,161,707, resulting in an alleged overpricing margin of GH¢2,003,121.75.

The report also flagged a payment of GH¢4,493,548.68 to Messrs Delovely Company Ltd for sports equipment. Audit checks reportedly confirmed that table tennis, badminton, and handball equipment valued at US$206,044.15 was not supplied.

SOURCE: thefourthestategh.com