Summary
- President Akufo-Addo plans to spend US$48 million on “operational expenses” for the 13th African Games.
- The proposed budget seemingly violates parliamentary approval: GH¢100 million for Goods and Services, GH¢50 million for Capital Expenditure.
- President Akufo-Addo targets specific companies for fundraising, potentially compromising the bidding process.
- Ablakwa questions government's priorities in spending such an amount on a sporting event during an economic crisis.
- Minority Caucus seeks Speaker Bagbin's approval to summon Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif over these alleged violations.
North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has exposed intercepted documents that indicate President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and officials at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, along with the Local Organising Committee (LOC), plan to spend an unprecedented US$48 million (GH¢602 million) on “operational expenses” for the upcoming 13th African Games scheduled to be held in Ghana from March 5 to March 23, 2024.
This revelation comes hot on the heels of the AFCON budget scandal, where Ablakwa had previously raised concerns about a US$8.5 million budget. The intercepted documents, dated February 13, 2024, and signed by LOC Executive Chairman Dr. Kwaku Ofosu-Asare, reveal the staggering nature of the proposed expenditure.
The US$48 million is distinctly separate from the already substantial US$195 million (GH¢2.4 billion) spent on infrastructure for the games. With the prevailing exchange rate, this sum translates to a colossal GH¢602 million.
A careful analysis of the documents reveals that this massive budget is intended to be spent over a mere 18 days, resulting in a daily operational expense of GH¢33.4 million and a weekly expenditure of GH¢200.6 million.
What makes this situation even more contentious is that President Akufo-Addo's conduct appears to violate parliamentary approval, as only GH¢100 million was approved for Goods and Services and GHS50 million for Capital Expenditure for the 2024 expenditure by the Ministry of Youth and Sports on the 13th African Games.
The intercepted documents further show that despite Parliament's approval of GH¢100 million, President Akufo-Addo instructed the LOC to send out official request letters on February 13, 2024, communicating the extravagant US$48 million budget.
Criticism has been directed at the President for chairing fundraising meetings in November 2023, seeking sponsorship for the operational expenses. Top executives have expressed outrage over the lack of transparency regarding the budget breakdown.
Questions are raised about the ethical implications of President Akufo-Addo targeting specific companies for fundraising, particularly state-owned enterprises like GNPC, Ghana Gas, BOST, and GOIL, as well as private entities such as MacDan, Zoomlion, MODEC, and Kosmos. Concerns are voiced about the fairness of competitive bidding processes and the assurance of value for money in projects executed by these sponsored entities.
The Minority Caucus in Parliament, led by Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, intends to seek Speaker Bagbin's approval to summon Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif to address the alleged violation of parliamentary approval for the budget.
Ablakwa concludes by condemning President Akufo-Addo's approval and collection of the US$48 million, describing it as “unpatriotic and nation-wrecking,” particularly when the government faces pressing issues such as pensioners' unpaid savings, inadequate housing for VRA spillage victims, and unmet financial obligations across various sectors.
The MP vows to expose and thwart what he terms a “lootocratic scheme,” expressing determination to ensure accountability and transparency in government spending.