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The Auditor-General of Ghana has surcharged former Minister for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, and two other former officials over financial irregularities linked to Ghana’s hosting of the 13th African Games to a tune of GHS580,042,347.40.
The surcharge follows an audit into the expenditure, contract management and procurement processes related to the continental sporting event hosted by Ghana in 2024. According to the Auditor-General’s findings, the amount represents financial irregularities and liabilities arising from decisions made by the three officials during the planning and execution of the sport event.
The two other persons named by the audit report are William Kartey, former Chief Director of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and Dr Kwaku Ofosu-Asare, former Chairman of the Local Organising Committee of the event.
The organisation of the games attracted widespread public attention over concerns about the cost of infrastructure, procurement and overall expenditure linked to the event.
Following these concerns, and upon assumption of office, President John Dramani Mahama in October 2025, requested the Auditor-General to carry out a comprehensive audit of the 13th African Games.
The report revealed that a total of GHS2,245,515,037.44 was received and spent on the event, leaving a total liability of GHS208,583,739.49.
“We recommend recovery of the amount from Mustapha Ussif (former Minister of Youth and Sports), William Kartey (former Chief Director) and Dr. Kwaku Ofosu-Asare (former LOC Chairman),” the report stated.
The Auditor-General further recommended that Mr Mustapha and the two others be sanctioned in accordance with Section 92 of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663) as amended.
According to Section 92 (1), “A person who contravenes a provision of this Act commits an offence and where a penalty is not provided for the offence, that person is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two thousand five hundred penalty units or a term of imprisonment not exceeding five years or to both the fine and the imprisonment.”
Under Ghana’s financial laws, persons surcharged are required to refund the disallowed amounts or challenge the decision through the appropriate legal process.
The Auditor-General’s report on the 2023 African Games highlighted several financial irregularities, including alleged overpricing and questionable payments.
According to the report, the Local Organising Committee (LOC) awarded JDK Travel and Tours a lump-sum contract of GHS 3,164,828.75 for branding and de-branding of vehicles. However, market benchmarking indicated that the same services should have cost about GHS 1, 161,707, leaving an alleged overpricing margin of GHS 2, 003,121.75.
The report also flagged a payment of GHS 4, 493,548.68 to Messrs Delovely Company Ltd for sports equipment. The Audit review confirmed that table tennis, badminton and handball equipment valued at US$206,044.15 was not supplied.
The sport event continues to attract scrutiny over alleged financial impropriety.
On May 18, 2026, the Executive Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Dr. Kwaku Ofosu-Asare, appeared before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament to answer questions over a GHS 35.8 million payment made to the Ghana Police Service without supporting documentation.
Responding to the committee Dr. Ofosu-Asare said: “I wrote to them (Ghana Police Service) asking them to justify such a quantum, but they could not justify.”
Dr. Ofosu-Asare further disclosed his shock over the bill presented to him, saying:
“I was shocked to the marrow by the kind of bill they brought. And I said please give us justifications and break it down to support what you are claiming.”
The Auditor has recommended that the former minister and two officials recover GHC 580 million.
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