Former Chairman of the Local Organising Committee for the 13th African Games, Dr Kwaku Ofosu-Asare, says it is wrong to compare Ghana’s expenditure on the multi-sport event with the cost of hosting the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Dr Ofosu-Asare made the comments when he appeared before Parliament’s Sports Committee on Wednesday, 16 September, to answer questions over the reported $250m expenditure on the African Games.
The committee’s proceedings have focused on concerns surrounding the management and use of funds allocated for the continental event.
Dr Ofosu-Asare argued that the scale and nature of the African Games made a direct comparison with the 2008 AFCON inappropriate.
According to him, the 2008 tournament was a single-sport competition involving 16 countries, while the African Games featured athletes from 53 countries competing across 23 sporting disciplines, in addition to eight demonstration sports.
He added that the investment required for the African Games extended beyond the competition itself because of the number of sports, athletes and facilities involved.
“That is a mistake we make as a country; everybody is comparing us to 2008 AFCON. Mr Chairman, with all due respect, 2008 was just one discipline; it was just for 16 countries,” Dr Ofosu-Asare told the committee.
“We hosted 53 countries, 23 disciplines, and eight demonstration disciplines, way beyond AFCON, and that’s the biggest mistake Ghanaians have made.
“Therefore, we should look at it differently from AFCON.”
The 13th African Games were held in Accra in March 2024, with events staged across multiple venues.
The former LOC chairman’s appearance before Parliament forms part of efforts to examine the reported expenditure and the financial management of the Games.
