Former Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, has denied engaging in any irregularities in respect of the 13th African Games held in Accra in 2023.
This is contained in a press release dated May 26.
"My attention has been drawn to the release of an audit report, which report is titled, Comprehensive Audit Report on the 13th African Games, Accra 2023.
The said report, I understand attributes various irregularities to me. I however deny being responsible for any such irregularities, if any at all," Mr Ussif wrote in his press statement.
The former Sports Minister was reacting to a comprehensive audit by the Audit Service into the Accra 2023 African Games which uncovered financial irregularities amounting to GH₵580,042,347.40.
The audit exposed what the Auditor-General describes as widespread procurement breaches, inflated contracts, unjustified payments, defective infrastructure works, and weak financial controls surrounding the continental sporting event.
According to Mr Ussif, "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.
Therefore, I look forward to the opportunity to respond to all the claims of impropriety in the said report."
The 700-page report, submitted to Parliament on February 26, 2026, examined how public funds allocated for the 13th African Games were managed and spent. The Games, hosted by Ghana for the first time, were financed through a US$170 million loan approved by Parliament alongside major infrastructure contracts worth over US$145 million.
According to the report, a total of GH₵2.245 billion was spent on the Games, yet liabilities of more than GH₵208 million remained outstanding at the time of the audit.
Former Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif, former Chief Director William Kartey, and former Local Organising Committee (LOC) Chairman Dr Kwaku Ofosu-Asare were repeatedly cited in the report for possible sanctions and recovery actions under Section 92 of the Public Procurement Act.
