Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, has issued a stark warning to Ghana's Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, over the financial handling of the 13th African Games held in Ghana.
In a recent statement, Ablakwa criticized the Minister for what he describes as excessive and unexplained withdrawals from national funds, despite the Games concluding in Accra on March 23.
According to the MP, financial documents he has intercepted reveal that substantial sums of money are still being extracted from the national coffers in the name of the Games.
Ablakwa pointed out that the Finance Ministry had already allocated over GHS 460 million for the event, a figure that far exceeds the amount approved by Parliament. He expressed concern that these ongoing financial disbursements are occurring despite the official end of the Games.
“This haemorrhage cannot continue when many sectors are being starved of resources as the economic conditions of Ghanaians deteriorate uncontrollably,” Ablakwa said. “Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif keeps running from parliamentary accountability, but let him know that his days are numbered. The day of reckoning is fast approaching.”
Ablakwa has also called on the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government to provide a detailed explanation to the public regarding the purpose of these substantial post-tournament financial releases and to clarify when these payments will cease.