Africa Games audit uncovers inflated contracts, overpricing and questionable payments worth millions
Fresh details from the Auditor-General’s forensic review into Ghana’s hosting of the 13th African Games have revealed extensive financial irregularities across multiple sectors of the event’s organisation, with auditors recommending the recovery of huge sums in local and foreign currencies.
The report highlights alleged overpricing, unsupported expenditure, unjustified contract variations and payments for goods and services that were either inflated or never delivered.
One of the major concerns raised by auditors involved catering arrangements tied to the Games. Investigators identified $2.83 million, equivalent to more than GHC33.9 million, in additional charges embedded within catering contracts. These costs reportedly covered transport, staffing, utilities, infrastructure and administrative expenses without adequate documentation or justification.
Anti-doping services also came under scrutiny after auditors concluded that testing contracts were significantly above standard rates charged by accredited World Anti-Doping Agency laboratories. The report estimated the overpricing at €572,040, equivalent to roughly GHC8 million.
Accommodation costs formed another major area of concern. According to the audit, some hotel rooms were billed at $150 per night despite prevailing market rates reportedly ranging between $50 and $70. Auditors estimated the inflated component of accommodation expenses at $840,000, representing more than GHC10 million.
The procurement of sporting equipment was equally flagged after benchmark comparisons allegedly revealed inflated pricing across disciplines including boxing, hockey, triathlon and arm wrestling. The audit estimated the variance at over $322,000, or approximately GHC3.87 million.
Vehicle and logistics-related contracts emerged as one of the largest clusters of questionable expenditure. Auditors highlighted multiple irregularities involving branding and de-branding of vehicles, inflated rental fees, excessive hiring costs and invoicing discrepancies. Combined, the flagged transport-related transactions exceeded GHC30 million under contracts linked to JDK Travel & Tours.
The report further identified payments amounting to more than $374,000 for sports equipment that was reportedly either undelivered or lacked clear specifications, translating to an estimated GHC4.49 million in overpayments.
Auditors also questioned GHC15.09 million in expenditure described as unrelated to the African Games. The report indicated that some of the payments were linked to activities involving the Black Stars technical team and other programmes outside the official scope of the competition.
Concerns were additionally raised over infrastructure works at key venues, including the Borteyman Sports Complex and facilities at the University of Ghana. Construction defects at the Aquatic Centre and Legon Stadium are expected to require at least GHC12 million in corrective work.
The most substantial financial anomalies were tied to engineering, procurement and construction contracts connected to the Borteyman Sports Complex, University of Ghana Stadium and Legon Sports Village projects.
According to the report, auditors detected inflated claims, unjustified contract variations and scope changes outside approved contractual arrangements. Total questionable claims within this category alone were estimated at nearly $39 million, equivalent to over GHC467 million.
Additional concerns were raised over three single-source infrastructure contracts that auditors believed lacked proper value assessments, leading to overpricing estimated at GHC5.4 million.
Overall, the audit recommended the recovery of approximately GHC579.1 million, alongside $44.35 million and €629,070, figures investigators described as stemming from unjustified payments, inflated contracts, undelivered goods and financial deviations throughout the organisation of the Games.
