The Minority in Parliament has called for a bipartisan parliamentary probe into the $240 million spent by the government on the recently concluded 13th African Games held in Accra, Ghana
The Minority criticized the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government, stating that despite the significant amount of money spent on the games, the organization and management of the event were poor and shambolic compared to previous editions hosted by other African countries.
Kobena Mensah Woyome, the Ranking Member on the Youth and Sports Committee of Parliament, described the 13th African Games as a monumental disaster and a total embarrassment to the country. He emphasized that the event failed to deliver economic viability, promote tourism, or facilitate trade effectively.
Mr. Woyome highlighted the alarming expenditure on the games, especially in light of the nation’s current economic challenges. He cited examples of previous hosts like Morocco, which spent 46 million euros, and Congo, which spent 60 million dollars on the 12th and 11th editions, respectively, but managed to build ultra-modern sports facilities.
The Minority’s call for an investigation into the expenditure of the Accra 2023 African Games comes amid growing concerns about the transparency and accountability of government spending, particularly in the sports sector.