The Minority in Parliament has intensified demands for a comprehensive audit of the expenditures related to the 2023 Africa Games hosted in Ghana earlier this year.
The demand follows Youth and Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif’s applause of the games as successful without providing detailed financial accounts.
Minority MPs criticized the Minister for not disclosing how public funds were utilized.
MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa pointed out the absence of a financial breakdown despite expenditures surpassing the approved budget.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament, he said, “I have gone through the entire 15-page statement that the honourable minister has presented. There is no mention of how much this country has spent on the games. What is the honourable minister concealing from this house? What is he hiding?”
“Why can’t we be told? Already we have raised concerns about the huge expenditure way beyond what this house approved. We know that $195 million was spent on infrastructure. We intercepted documents that revealed that they had budgeted to spend $48 million on so-called operational expenses.”
“We have not less than 245 million US dollars for this whole hosting of events and committed close to $195 million for infrastructure development,” he said.
Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson stressed that $15 million was allocated to a company called M and L Company Limited for 18 days of feeding.
“That amounts to GH¢226 million for 18 days. You cannot come here and deliver a statement without accounting for $15 million for 18 days. This is public money,” he stated.
Former Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, however, noted that the constitution provides that accounting for the usage of public funds requires time.
According to him, after the event, the minister cannot go to Parliament within two to three weeks and explain everything.
“The minority leader fortunately is an accountant and he understands these things,” he said.
Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, on the other hand, stated that the Minority Leader cannot demand an audit immediately.
“They have finished their work. Instead of commending the minister for a good job, you want to use the opportunity to critique and say things that are not factual,” he said.
The Youth and Sports Minister, Mustapha Ussif has, however, assured that he would account for every cedi spent on the games.