Baba Yara Ban:Ablakwa questions GHS85 million expenditure on stadium maintenance

The Honorable Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has revealed that the government has spent over GHS85 million on stadium maintenance over the last five years with nothing to show for it.

He further alleges that more than a third of the payments were made to a company owned by Kelvin Ofori-Atta, a relative of President Akufo-Addo and former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.

Last week, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) banned Ghana from playing games at home after persistent complaints about the poor stadium infrastructure in the country were ignored by authorities.

The decision has largely been attributed to the poor maintenance culture of the Sports Ministry, custodians of the facility.

But in a series of social media posts made on X (Twitter), the lawmaker alleged that millions of tax cedis have in fact been paid out to various companies for renovation works at the Essipong, Accra and Baba Yara Stadium, and questioned whether any work was actually done.

See his post below

HOW GHANA SPENT OVER GHS85MILLION ON STADIUM RENOVATIONS LARGELY BY AKUFO-ADDO’S RELATIVE AND STILL GOT A CAF BAN

Fresh intercepted documents reveal that colossal amounts of taxpayer funds in excess of GHS85million were actually released to crony companies to rehabilitate three of our national sports stadia in recent years.

Painstaking parliamentary oversight has led me to the firm conclusion that if Ghana had obtained value for money in these contracts, we would have avoided this unprecedented monumental international disgrace of all our stadia facing prohibition by CAF from hosting international competitions. The latest revelations dispel widely held views that our national stadia were simply abandoned by an incompetent NPP government.

It turns out the real situation is worse — there was all along a corrupt create, loot and share scheme with taxpayer funds in the name of stadium rehabilitation but only a few enriched themselves without Ghana benefiting. 1) GHS41.9million Essipong (Sekondi) Rehabilitation On July 14, 2023, the then Deputy Minister for Finance, Dr. John A. Kumah (may his soul rest in peace) wrote to the Minister for Youth and Sports granting authorization for the rehabilitation of the Essipong Stadium.

Intercepted letter is duly attached. The contract was awarded to Cisdan Company Limited. Incorporation documents confirm that Cisdan Company Limited is owned by Kelvin Ofori-Atta, a relative of President Akufo-Addo and former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta. By 25th October, 2023, Cisdan had raised an interim payment certificate of GHS6,853,942.80 which was promptly paid. Other massive payments have since been made.

Find attached the intercepted agreement between Cisdan and the Ministry of Youth and Sports. 2) GHS22.4million Accra Sports Stadium Renovation On 27th February 2020, the Ministry of Youth and Sports entered into an agreement with Coupbay Ghana Limited to renovate the Accra Sports Stadium at a total cost of GHS22,484,134.37. Coupbay Ghana Limited is also owned by the same politically exposed Kelvin Ofori-Atta.

See articles of incorporation attached. Very interesting revelations about a President who loudly proclaimed that he will never run a family and friends government. In less than a month after the 27th February, 2020 agreement, Coupbay raised an interim payment certificate on 23rd March, 2020 demanding payment of GHS11,223,895.03. (Evidence of this is attached).

By 3rd November, 2021, the Youth and Sports Ministry was demanding another payment of GHS4,553,199.83 for Coupbay. (Intercepted letter attached). Further tracking points to multiple payments to Coupbay. 3) GHS21.1million Baba Yara (Kumasi) Sports Stadium Renovation On 6th April, 2020, the Ministry of Youth and Sports signed another agreement worth GHS21,122,068.44 with Javkier Limited for the renovation of the Baba Yara Sports Stadium. (Agreement is attached).

Javkier was notified by the Youth Ministry that it has won the contract in a letter dated March 27, 2020. (See document attached). This is the same stadium looking as though it has gone without renovations for more than two decades. On June 1, 2023, Javkier owned by the Arhin ladies were certified for payment by the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

This monumental international disgrace should never have happened but for corruption, naked nepotism, lootocracy, ineptitude and zero love for country. President Akufo-Addo should have long been impeached, and none of the leaders at the MoYS and the NSA deserve to keep their jobs.