….as Forensic Audit Exposes Shocking Rot
…Hotel rooms billed at US50… GH¢468m stolen from construction contracts… Black Stars coaches fed from Games kitty…
By Gifty Boateng
The mask has fallen. A forensic audit into Ghana’s disastrous hosting of the 13th African Games has uncovered a staggering GH¢579 million, US$44 million, and €629,000 in financial irregularities and three former top officials have been ordered to pay back every pesewa.
The report, commissioned by President John Dramani Mahama shortly after he assumed office, has laid bare a story of breathtaking greed, systemic procurement breaches, and what auditors describe as “highly irregular and financially damaging” expenditure patterns.
At the centre of the storm are Mustapha Ussif (former Youth and Sports Minister), William Kartey (former Chief Director), and Dr. Kwaku Ofosu-Asare (former Local Organising Committee Chairman). The Auditor-General has directed that monies deemed unjustified or improperly spent be refunded to the state.
Also caught in the net: Amin Alhassan, Director-General of the Ghana Broadcasting
The report is a catalogue of theft. Consider:
· Catering scam: Non-feeding expenses (transport, utilities, staffing) worth US$2.8 million were buried in food supply agreements. No justification.
· Anti-doping fraud: Payments exceeded World Anti-Doping Agency benchmarks by €572,000 (GH¢8 million). Who approved this?
· Hotel rip-off: Athletes and officials were billed **US50–70. The loss: US$840,000 (GH¢10 million).
· Equipment swindle: Over US374,000 for goods never delivered or without specifications.
· Transport mess: JDK Travel & Tours pocketed irregular payments totalling more than GH¢30 million inflated hiring, excessive branding, over-invoicing.
· Infrastructure defects: The Aquatic Centre and Legon Stadium need at least GH¢12 million in corrective works. Three single-source contracts were overpriced by GH¢5.4 million no price assessment, just blank cheques.
But the biggest heist happened in engineering and construction. Contracts for the Borteyman Sports Complex, University of Ghana Stadium, and Legon Sports Village were riddled with inflated claims, unjustified variations, and unauthorised scope changes. Irregular claims in this category alone: nearly US$39 million – that is GH¢468 million.
Let that sink in. Nearly half a billion cedis – stolen, mismanaged, or simply vanished.
In another troubling twist, auditors revealed that approximately GH¢15 million meant for the African Games was allegedly redirected to unrelated activities including payments to members of the Black Stars technical team. The same Black Stars who had nothing to do with the continental event.
The Auditor-General stopped short of criminal findings. But the report speaks for itself: widespread overpricing, unsupported claims, inflated contracts, and questionable expenditures across every major aspect of the Games.
Auditors describe systemic procurement weaknesses, poor financial controls, and contractual breaches throughout the organisation process.
President Mahama commissioned this audit. Now Ghanaians are watching to see if the recovery recommendations will be enforced – or if this report, like so many before, will end up collecting dust on a parliamentary shelf.
The Public Accounts Committee, long accused of being toothless, has a chance to prove otherwise. The three men at the centre must refund millions. And the GBC boss must explain his role.
The Games are over. The accounting has just begun. And Ghana demands justice.