Civil Society Organisation Forum for Accountable Governance, has petitioned the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to institute an extensive investigation into acts of alleged corruption surrounding the 13th African Games held in Accra.
The Organisation is amongst other things, asking the Office of the Special Prosecutor to thoroughly examine the $245 million expenditure used in hosting and organising the games, held from March 4 to March 23, 2024.
Speaking to the media, president of the Forum for Accountable Governance and private legal practitioner, Kwame Owusu Danso, said that at the heart of their concerns are issues regarding the lack of transparency, accountability, and value for money and alleged potential breaches in procurement, conflicts of interest, and other forms of corruption in the allocation of funds for the games.
Thus, in their request for an investigative report into the matter, they are seeking an inquiry into the following;
1. Vendor selection and procurement processes
2. Contract awards and payments to vendors
3. Quality and delivery of services and goods
4. Potential conflicts of interest and favoritism
5. Compliance with financial regulations and laws
Also, the specific areas of concern include;
1. Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) payment_: Investigate the $3.6 million payment to GBC for production and broadcasting rights, including the discrepancy in payment amounts and the outsourcing of technical production.
2. Food expenditure_: Investigate the $15 million expenditure on food for 5000 participants for 18 days, including:
– Who was given the contract?
– Breakdown of the cost per participant per day
– Quality and delivery of food services
3. Media accreditation: Investigate the amount stated for media accreditation for the games, including:
– Who was awarded the contract?
– Breakdown of the costs of $4.6 Million
– Quality and delivery of services
4. Vendor payments: Investigate payments to all vendors, including those providing services for venue preparation, security, transportation, and accommodations.
5. Expenditure management: Investigate the overall management of the $245 million budget, including any potential mismanagement, waste, or corruption.
Owusu Danso has therefore expressed his confidence in the Office of the Special Prosecutor to delve into the matters for determination and provide an exhaustive inquiry to address the varying questions on the minds of many Ghanaians.
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