MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has expressed concern over the treatment of athletes at the 13th African Games.
His remarks follow revelations by Ghanaian badminton player Leslie Addo, who shed light on the difficult conditions faced by athletes during the ongoing games in the country.
Ablakwa raised questions about the substantial funds allocated to the event, citing that the Ministry of Youth and Sports received a significant amount of GH¢215,558,167.32 from the Ministry of Finance.
The MP questioned the allocation of these funds, highlighting that despite Ghana’s economic challenges, taxpayers contributed over GH¢412 million, raising concerns about the issues athletes are currently facing.
“It’s really heartbreaking listening to Ghanaian athletes at the 13th African Games lament about official neglect, buying their own kits, arriving to games in buckets of rickety pick-up trucks, etc. “From my impeccable oversight tracking, Ghana’s Ministry of Youth and Sports has received a massive GH¢215,558,167.32 from the Ministry of Finance for such expenditures.
“I am also keenly monitoring outstanding PVs from single-sourced contractors amounting to a staggering GH¢196,553,919.54, which are about to be paid this week. “Our athletes do not deserve this shabby and cruel treatment when, despite Ghana’s current economic crisis, taxpayers are coughing over GH¢412 million for the very things athletes are complaining about. Where is all the money going? Ghana’s hosting of the 13th African Games is the next big scandal,” he said in a Twitter post on March 10, 2024.
In a recent interview, Leslie Addo revealed that he and his teammates had to resort to sitting in the bed of a pickup truck to reach the match venue in Borteyman.
Addo, a member of Ghana’s men’s doubles badminton team, voiced his frustration over the team’s transportation issues.
He explained that the team had no alternative but to use their coach’s private pick-up truck. With limited space inside the vehicle, some players had to sit in the bed of the truck, putting their safety at risk.
“Today, when we were coming to play our matches, we sat in our coach’s vehicle and it was a pick-up, so most of us were in the bucket. We didn’t get any transport. We, the host nation, are playing for the country and no one is supporting us,” he lamented.
In addition to the existing complaints, Addo highlighted that despite the Ministry of Youth and Sports renting a fleet of 332 vehicles, including luxury cars and buses, for the games, the badminton team still faced transportation challenges.
They had to rely on their coach’s pickup truck, which was inadequate for their needs.
Our sports minister what he knows is paying appearance fees, that’s all