The Public Accounts Committee of Parliament has expressed strong concern over what it describes as major financial irregularities involving the Ministry of Sports and Recreation in relation to expenditures linked to the 2023 All African Games.
The Committee questioned the Ministry’s submission of a GH¢35.8 million claim to the Ministry of Finance for the deployment of 6,000 police officers during the Games, noting that the request was made without adequate supporting documentation to justify the expenditure.
It also highlighted a separate GH¢455,000 invoice relating to accommodation at a hostel used during the event, which was forwarded to the Sports Ministry for payment but similarly lacked the necessary documentary evidence to support the claim.
During proceedings held on Monday, 18 May 2026, the Ranking Member of the Committee, Samuel Atta Mills, called for stricter administrative reforms within the Ministry. He argued that recurring financial infractions could be reduced if leadership and administrative staff were rotated more frequently.
He cited the GH¢35.8 million claim for police deployment as particularly troubling, questioning how such a significant expenditure could be recorded without verifiable documentation. He further criticised what he described as systemic weaknesses that allow duplication and irregular claims within public institutions.
According to him, the scale of the irregularities suggests deeper administrative failures beyond political leadership alone, adding that in his view, even annual changes in ministerial leadership might not be sufficient unless broader institutional reforms are undertaken.
Meanwhile, the Executive Chairman of the Local Organising Committee for the 2023 African Games, Dr Kwaku Ofosu Asare, told the Committee that attempts had been made to obtain justification for the police related claims.
He explained that police officers were initially engaged strictly to provide security support for the Games, and at the early stages, arrangements were even made to cater for their feeding. However, he stated that the police later withdrew certain arrangements and subsequently submitted a bill at the end of the event.
According to him, repeated requests were made for detailed breakdowns and supporting documents for the claim, but none were provided, leaving the organisers unable to verify or validate the charges submitted.
He described the situation as unexpected and expressed surprise at the scale of the bill presented, noting that despite formal requests, the justification required to support the claim had not been supplied, leading to the current audit concerns.
