Mustapha Ussif rejects Africa Games audit allegations, awaits chance to respond
Former Youth and Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif has strongly denied any wrongdoing following the release of the Auditor-General’s report into Ghana’s hosting of the 13th African Games.
The former minister issued a statement after public attention intensified around the findings of the forensic audit, which linked several former officials to procurement breaches, contract irregularities and financial infractions connected to the continental sporting event.
According to Ussif, he had taken notice of the publication titled Comprehensive Audit Report on 13th African Games, Accra 2023, which reportedly mentioned his name in a number of findings.
“The said report, I understand, attributes various irregularities to me,” he stated.
“I, however, deny being responsible for any such irregularities, if any at all.”
The audit report had recommended recovery measures and sanctions against several individuals, including former Chief Director William Kartey and former Local Organising Committee chairman Dr. Kwaku Ofosu-Asare, over alleged procurement violations and questionable expenditure tied to Ghana’s organisation of the Games in 2024.
However, Ussif insisted that the findings should not be treated as final without giving affected persons an opportunity to respond before the appropriate state institutions.
“It’s my understanding that the report will be presented to Parliament and persons who may have answers to findings will be invited to answer accordingly,” he explained.
The former minister added that he is prepared to cooperate fully with any parliamentary or official process established to examine the report’s conclusions.
“Therefore, I look forward to the opportunity to respond to all the claims of impropriety in the said report,” Ussif noted.
His statement marks the first public reaction from any of the major officials named in the audit, which has generated widespread debate over financial accountability and governance during Ghana’s hosting of the African Games.
The report highlighted allegations involving inflated contracts, procurement breaches, unexplained payments and weak administrative oversight, while recommending the recovery of hundreds of millions of cedis linked to expenditure during the tournament.
