The Acting Director-General of the National Information Technology Agency (NITA), Richard Okyere-Fosu, has described the findings contained in the Auditor-General’s report on the 13th African Games as too serious for the country to overlook, insisting that all officials connected to the expenditure must be held accountable.
Reacting to the growing public debate surrounding the audit findings, the NITA boss said the scale of the alleged financial irregularities demands transparency and answers from persons who supervised the organisation of the Games.
“These findings are too serious to ignore. Public officials involved must answer to the Ghanaian people,” he reportedly stated while discussing the controversy surrounding the audit report.
The Auditor-General’s forensic audit into Ghana’s hosting of the 13th African Games uncovered financial irregularities exceeding GH¢580 million, including alleged inflated contracts, procurement breaches, unsupported payments, unapproved contract variations, and payments for undelivered items.
The report specifically mentioned former Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif, former Chief Director of the Ministry of Youth and Sports William Kartey, and former Local Organising Committee Chairman Dr. Kwaku Ofosu-Asare as officials linked to several of the questioned transactions.
According to the audit, irregularities were recorded in areas including accommodation, catering, vehicle hire, sports equipment procurement, infrastructure works, and sanitation contracts connected to the Games.
Richard Okyere-Fosu stressed that accountability should not be politicised, arguing that Ghana cannot continue to lose huge sums of public money without consequences.
“We cannot build a serious country if reports like these emerge and nobody is held responsible,” he said.
His comments come at a time when pressure is mounting on state institutions to investigate the audit findings and recover funds where necessary.
Meanwhile, former Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif has denied wrongdoing and rejected claims that he was personally responsible for the irregularities captured in the report.
In a statement issued after the release of the audit, Ussif said he was prepared to respond to the findings through the appropriate legal and parliamentary processes.
“I, however, deny being responsible for any such irregularities, if any at all,” the former minister stated.
