The Minority in Parliament is calling for a bipartisan parliamentary probe into the $240 million spent by the government on the recently concluded 13th African Games.
According to the Minority, despite the significant amount of money allocated to the games, the organization and management were poor and shambolic compared to previous editions hosted by other African countries.
Ranking Member on the Youth and Sports Committee of Parliament, Kobena Mensah Woyome, criticized the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government, describing the 13th African Games in Ghana as a monumental disaster and a total embarrassment to the country.
He highlighted that despite the substantial financial investment, the event failed to achieve economic viability, promote tourism, or facilitate trade effectively.
Mr. Woyome emphasized that the expenditure on the games was alarming, particularly given the nation’s current economic challenges.
Drawing comparisons to previous hosts, he noted that Morocco spent 46 million euros and Congo spent 60 million dollars on the 12th and 11th editions, respectively, yet managed to develop ultra-modern sports facilities.
“The just-ended games were a monumental disaster and a total embarrassment to our dear country. The Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government spent a staggering 240 million dollars on the just-ended games yet, the organisation and management of the event were poor and shambolic.
“Quite apart from the fact that it lacked the clear combined effect of economic viability, the organisation of the games lacked clear-cut policies for tourism promotion and trade facilitation. This could have given us some economic value for the huge expenditure on the game.
“Given the current state of the Ghanaian economy, which has been rendered bankrupt by the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government. Emerging details about the hefty expenditure of the games raised concerns among Ghanaians.
“Four years Morocco, hosted the 12 edition of the African games and spent 46 million euros, prior to that Congo spent 60 million dollars to host the 11th edition.”