Former Minister for Youth and Sports Mustapha Ussif has strongly denied allegations of financial wrongdoing following the release of a forensic audit report into Ghana’s hosting of the 13th African Games, which cited irregularities amounting to more than GH¢580 million.
The 700-page forensic audit report, commissioned by the government and conducted by the Ghana Audit Service, uncovered widespread alleged financial irregularities linked to the organisation of the continental sporting event held in Accra.
According to the report, Mustapha Ussif, former Chief Director of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, William Kartey, and former Local Organising Committee Chairman Dr. Kwaku Ofosu-Asare were repeatedly cited in relation to procurement breaches, unsupported payments, inflated contracts, and questionable expenditure.
The Auditor-General subsequently recommended that the three officials be held jointly responsible for the recovery of GH¢579,114,352.24, alongside $44,354,881.77 and €629,070 linked to the audit findings.
However, Mustapha Ussif has rejected the allegations and insists he bears no responsibility for any financial impropriety identified in the report.
In a statement reacting to the findings, he said:
“My attention has been drawn to the release of an audit report, which is titled, Comprehensive Audit Report on the 13th African Games, Accra 2023.”
He further stated: “The said report, I understand, attributes various irregularities to me. I, however, deny being responsible for any such irregularities, if any at all.”
The former Sports Minister also indicated that he expects the matter to be taken before Parliament, where persons named in the report will have the opportunity to respond formally to the findings.
“It is my understanding that the report of the audit will be presented to Parliament, and persons who may have answers to findings will be invited to respond accordingly,” he stated.
He added: “Therefore, I look forward to the opportunity to respond to all the claims of impropriety in the said report.”
The audit report highlighted alleged irregularities across several expenditure areas connected to the African Games, including catering, accommodation, transport, anti-doping services, sports equipment procurement, infrastructure, and logistics.
Among the findings were:
Alleged inflated accommodation expenses amounting to about $840,000, overpricing of anti-doping services estimated at €572,000, more than GH¢30 million in transport and logistics irregularities and nearly GH¢468 million in questioned engineering and construction contract variations linked to the Borteyman Sports Complex and University of Ghana sports facilities.
The audit also found that some sports equipment contracts involved payments for items that were either not supplied or lacked proper documentation.
While the Auditor-General did not make criminal findings, the report recommended recovery actions and possible sanctions against officials cited in the audit.
