Former Minister for Youth and Sports and Member of Parliament for Yagaba/Kubori, Mustapha Ussif, has responded to an Auditor-General’s report on the 13th All-African Games, Accra 2023, which recommends that he and other officials be held responsible for the recovery of over GHS 579 million linked to alleged financial irregularities.
The report, commissioned in 2025, cited alleged irregularities including cost inflation, unsupported payments, undelivered goods, and contractual deviations across several expenditure lines such as catering, transport, accommodation, equipment procurement, and infrastructure projects.
It also recommended the recovery of additional sums in foreign currencies, including over $44 million and €629,070, from individuals identified in connection with the organisation of the Games.
However, Mustapha Ussif, in a statement on Tuesday, May 26, denied any wrongdoing, insisting he is not responsible for any of the irregularities outlined in the audit report.
“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.
He added that he expects the report to be formally presented to Parliament, where persons implicated will be given the opportunity to respond.
“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 Auditor-General’s findings reportedly cover widespread financial concerns across nearly all aspects of the Games’ delivery, including major engineering and construction works, where significant contract variations and inflated costs were flagged.
Among others, the report pointed to alleged anomalies at the Borteyman Sports Complex, University of Ghana Stadium, and Legon Sports Village projects.
The Auditor-General has recommended that the named officials be held jointly responsible for the recovery of the flagged amounts as part of ongoing accountability processes.
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