By Issah Olegor
President John Dramani Mahama has confirmed that several public officials have been questioned over their roles in the ongoing probe into financial irregularities surrounding the 2023 African Games, intensifying scrutiny of one of Ghana’s most controversial sporting events in recent memory.
Speaking during a televised address on his first 120 days in office since returning to the presidency, Mahama said the investigation into the Games was part of his broader commitment to restoring accountability and transparency in governance.
The 13th edition of the African Games, hosted in Accra in March 2024, was initially hailed as a landmark achievement for Ghana—both as a sporting success and as a showcase of national pride.
However, celebrations quickly gave way to controversy after allegations of massive overspending and misappropriation of public funds began to surface.
At the heart of the scandal is the staggering $245 million reportedly spent on organizing the Games. Further investigations revealed that $15 million was spent solely on feeding athletes and officials, while another $4.5 million was allocated to a games management system and accreditation tags—costs that critics say lack transparency and may have been inflated.
President Mahama, who campaigned on a platform of anti-corruption and fiscal discipline, has moved swiftly to distance his administration from what he described as “waste and abuse” under the previous government.
“A cornerstone of our commitment to good governance and accountability is tackling corruption and eliminating waste,” he said.
“This war against corruption continues unabated.”
He added that inquiries and forensic audits are being conducted into several key public transactions, with the African Games being a priority case.
“A number of officials have been invited and questioned concerning the 13th African Games,” he confirmed, although he did not disclose their identities.
Earlier reports from April 2025 indicated that former Youth and Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif had been interrogated by the National Investigation Bureau (NIB).
However, it remains unclear whether his questioning was directly linked to the African Games probe or other unrelated matters during his tenure.
