Former Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, has denied any wrongdoing in relation to the 13th African Games held in Accra in 2023.
In a press statement dated May 26, Mr. Ussif said he had taken notice of the release of the audit report into the Games and rejected claims linking him to any alleged irregularities.
“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,” he stated.
Mr. Ussif, former Chief Director William Kartey, and former Local Organising Committee(LOC) Chairman Dr. Kwaku Ofosu-Asare were among individuals cited in the report for possible sanctions and recovery actions under Section 92 of the Public Procurement Act.
The forensic audit, which was commissioned by President Mahama last year, revealed widespread cost inflation, irregular payments, and unsupported expenditure across contracts linked to the event.
Though the Auditor-General did not make any criminal findings, it recommended the recovery of GH₵579 million from these three top former officials at the heart of Ghana’s organisation of the 13th Africa Games.
However, Mr. Ussif has said he expects to be given the opportunity to respond to the issues raised in the report when it is presented before Parliament.
“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,” he added.
The 700-page audit report, submitted to Parliament on February 26, 2026, examined how public funds allocated for the 13th African Games were managed and spent.
The Games, which Ghana hosted for the first time, were financed through a US$170 million loan approved by Parliament, in addition to infrastructure contracts worth more than US$145 million.
According to the report, a total of GH₵2.245 billion was spent on the Games, while liabilities exceeding GH₵208 million remained outstanding at the time of the audit.
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Read the full statement below:
