By kwame Bediako
Chairman of the Local Organising Committee for the 2023 African Games, Dr. Kwaku Ofosu‑Asare, says he was deeply shocked by a GH¢35.8 million bill submitted by the Ghana Police Service for the deployment of about 6,000 officers, especially because the police failed to provide a clear justification for the amount.
He told Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Monday, May 18, that the bill arrived after the Games, even though the police had partially withdrawn their services before the event ended.
The disputed GH¢35.8 million police bill
Ofosu‑Asare said the arrangement was not originally for such a high sum, adding that the LOC had even been feeding the officers before the police later pulled out.
When he asked the police to break down and justify the GH¢35.8 million, he claims they could not provide a proper explanation, which left him “baffled” and “shocked” by the scale of the unbudgeted claim.
Other financial concerns raised
The PAC also questioned the Ministry of Sports and Recreation over a separate GH¢455,000 hostel‑accommodation bill with missing supporting documents, raising concerns about transparency and record‑keeping.
Ranking Member Samuel Atta‑Mills suggested periodically rotating officials at the Sports Ministry to help reduce recurring financial irregularities in the management of major events.
The 2023 African Games, hosted in Accra from March 8 to March 23, 2024, have now become a focal point for scrutiny over how security and logistical costs were accounted for and approved.
