Ghana’s recent hosting of the 13th All African Games has ignited widespread public outcry, with many Ghanaians expressing grave concerns over the staggering $245 million expenditure associated with the event.
Allegations of corruption, misappropriation of public funds, and a lack of transparency have dominated discussions, with calls for a thorough investigation into the matter growing louder by the day.
Kwame Owusu Danso, the Convener of the Forum for Accountable Governance and private legal practitioner, in a bold step, has officially petitioned the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to launch a comprehensive investigation into the alleged corruption surrounding the organization of the games.
According to the petition, there are significant concerns regarding a lack of transparency and accountability in how the funds were allocated and spent.
The group is urging the OSP to investigate potential breaches in procurement processes, conflicts of interest, and other forms of corruption that may have occurred in the allocation of these funds.
Mr. Danso expressed confidence in the OSP’s ability to conduct a fair and impartial investigation.
“To the extent that I told you I have so much confidence in the Office of the Special Prosecutor, we’re all law-abiding citizens, and so, if investigations are conducted and properly so done and the outcome is that there are no corruption-related matters inherent in the organisation of the All African Games, I think the matter would have been brought to bed.
“And so, I would not further query or ask questions about it. At least, my conscience will be satisfied that I have done the Lord’s duty for the good people of this country.”
Kwame Owusu Danso, Convener of the Forum for Accountable Governance
Allegations of Misappropriation and Lack of Transparency
The $245 million budget for hosting the All African Games has been criticized as excessive by many well-meaning Ghanaians, who have questioned the value for money in the expenditures made.
A significant point of contention has been the $16 million (approximately GHS 250 million) spent on refurbishing four hostels at the University of Ghana — Elizabeth Sey, Kwapong, Limann, and Nelson — to accommodate participants.
Renowned Sports Journalist Saddick Adams, in a scathing critique, voiced his concerns about the expenditure, calling for a detailed breakdown to provide clarity on how such amounts could be justified.
He compared the expenditure on the hostel renovations to a major construction project by the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA).
According to him, the UPSA project, which took place around the same time as the hostel refurbishments, involves constructing a new school campus, including a ten-floor multipurpose twin tower and two ten-storey hostel block facilities.
These new hostels, he argued will accommodate approximately 3,250 students, and the entire project costs the university 230 million cedis ($14 million), which he noted is lower than the $16 million amount use for the renovation of four halls at the University of Ghana.
“The Africa Games Organizers didn’t need to build any new hostel. They refurbished four Legon hostels to accommodate participants. The cost of the renovation is captured in the expenditure as $16 million.
“Both the UPSA construction and Legon refurbishments happened around the same period. I am not an expert in this, but I want to ask, how is this technically possible? When I say only a breakdown will clear doubts, this is what I mean”.
Saddick Adams, Renowned Sports Journalist
The apparent disparity in costs between the UPSA construction project and the Legon hostel refurbishments has fueled suspicions of financial mismanagement or corruption.
These suspicions have been echoed by members of the public, civil society organizations, and several well-meaning Ghanaians who demand accountability from those responsible for managing public funds.
The public outcry over the All African Games’ expenditure is a clear indication of the growing frustration among Ghanaians over the lack of transparency and accountability in how public funds are managed.
The concerns raised by Kwame Owusu Danso, Saddick Adams, and others reflect a broader sentiment that the country’s resources are not being used prudently or in the best interests of its citizens.
Given the gravity of the allegations and the substantial amount of money involved, it is imperative that the OSP and other state institutions mandated by law undertake a thorough investigation to ascertain the true facts of the expenditure.
This investigation should be conducted with the utmost transparency and integrity to restore public trust and ensure that those responsible for any wrongdoing are held accountable.
The outcome of this investigation will be crucial in determining whether there was any misappropriation of public funds or corruption in hosting the All African Games.
It will also serve as a test of Ghana’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and the rule of law.
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