Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has revealed significant expenditures related to the renovation of Ghana’s national sports stadia, totaling over GHS85 million.
His claims, published in a recent Facebook post, highlight concerns about alleged mismanagement and corruption in the allocation of these funds.
Mr Ablakwa‘s revelations are based on intercepted documents that detail payments made to companies involved in the rehabilitation of three key sports facilities:
- Essipong Stadium (Sekondi): The renovation project, awarded to Cisdan Company Limited for GHS41.9 million, was authorized by the then Deputy Minister for Finance, Dr. John A. Kumah, on July 14, 2023. The company is reportedly owned by Kelvin Ofori-Atta, a relative of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta. The project has seen multiple payments, including an interim payment of GHS6,853,942.80.
- Accra Sports Stadium: Renovation costs for this facility amounted to GHS22.4 million, with Coupbay Ghana Limited, also owned by Kelvin Ofori-Atta, securing the contract. The Ministry of Youth and Sports agreed to this amount on February 27, 2020. Intercepted documents indicate that Coupbay received interim payments totaling GHS11,223,895.03 within a month of the agreement.
- Baba Yara Sports Stadium (Kumasi): Javkier Limited was awarded GHS21.1 million for this project on April 6, 2020. The stadium, which has faced criticism for its dilapidated state, was contracted by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, with payments confirmed in June 2023.
Mr Ablakwa’s post criticizes the handling of these projects, suggesting that the funds were not used effectively, resulting in Ghana’s sports stadia being banned by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) from hosting international competitions. The post alleges corruption and nepotism, stating that “a corrupt create, loot and share scheme” has deprived Ghana of the intended benefits.
In response to the CAF ban on Baba Yara Sports Stadium due to its poor condition, the Ministry of Youth and Sports has instructed the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to seek approval for the Accra Sports Stadium and University of Ghana Sports Stadium as potential venues for the Black Stars’ upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Sudan.
The Ministry asserts that “most issues have been resolved” at the Accra Sports Stadium and is pushing for CAF’s inspection and approval.
Ghana faces limited options for the upcoming match, with possibilities of hosting in neighboring countries like Togo, Nigeria, or Ivory Coast if local venues are not approved in time.