The 2023 African Games in Ghana had a poor and shambolic organisation according to the Member of Parliament for South Tongu Wisdom Kobla Mensah Woyome.
The Ranking Member on the Youth, Sports and Culture Committee of Parliament, says it is mind boggling to learn that a colossal US$240 million was expended by the government in the Games but could not live up to expectation.
Addressing the media Tuesday, March 26, 2024, the legislator indicated that despite the few medals won by Ghanaian athletes, the entire event caused disgrace for Ghana with logistical challenges and poor management.
He says the Games was a monumental failure considering the fact that no single Ghanaian athlete was able to qualify for the 2024 Olympics.
According to him, Ghana qualifying for the Olympic Games would have done a lot of good for the State looking at the number of people that patronise it, and how it would have boosted the country’s tourism and propelled its economic credentials.
“The just ended games were a monumental disaster and total embarrassment to our dear country. The Akufo-Addo-Bawumia NPP government spent a staggering US$240 million in the just ended games yet the organisation and management of the event was poor and shambolic,” he noted.
“We also approved GHC100 million for goods and services for the LOC and then GHC50 million for operations this year (about US$12m). Now the LOC is spending US$48 million. Where from the extra money? You’ve spent so much money and you’ve failed to deliver on what we all wished,” he added.
He added that the organisers of the Games failed to use the event to promote tourism in Ghana, a situation he describes as worrying.
“Apart from the fact that it lacked clear and combine effect on economic viability, the organisation of the games to lacked clear-cut policies for tourism promotion and trade facilitation,” he pointed out.
For purposes of probity and accountability, the legislator added that “we the NDC Minority in Parliament call for a bipartisan parliamentary probe into the budget and expenditure for the preparation and organisation of the games.”
The call follows an earlier one made by the party in a statement signed by its National Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi, after South Africa opted out from the hockey discipline as a result of what they described as substandard pitches and poor organisation.
NDC calls for immediate parliamentary probe into African Games expenditure
