Police couldn’t justify GH₵35.8m African Games bill

Questions have emerged over the financial accountability surrounding security arrangements for the 2023 African Games in Accra, after the Local Organising Committee (LOC) chairman disclosed that the Ghana Police Service was unable to properly justify a multi-million cedi invoice submitted after the event.

Appearing before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, LOC Chair Dr. Kwaku Ofosu Asare said the police initially took on a supportive security role during preparations for the continental sporting event, with the LOC even covering feeding arrangements for personnel deployed.

According to him, the arrangement later changed unexpectedly, with police officers withdrawing before the Games had concluded, only for a substantial bill to be submitted afterwards.

“Initially they were just to assist in providing security and we were even feeding them. Then they later pulled out. Out of nowhere, they brought us this bill (of 35.8 million),” he told the committee.

Dr. Ofosu Asare said the figure, pegged at GH₵35.8 million, came as a shock to the LOC, prompting an immediate request for a detailed breakdown of the charges and the basis for the computation.

“So I wrote to them and asked them to justify it. And they could not justify it. I was shocked to the marrow with the kind of bill they brought and I said please break it down to provide justification to support what you are claiming,” he added.

He explained that the police deployment in question covered roughly the three-week duration of the Games, which officially ran from March 8 to March 23, 2024, although their participation, according to his testimony, ended before the closing stages.

Despite the absence of what he described as adequate justification for the claim, Dr. Ofosu Asare confirmed that the full amount was ultimately paid to the Ghana Police Service.

The disclosure has added to ongoing scrutiny over expenditure related to the multi-sport event, which has already faced questions in Parliament over cost management and accountability in the lead-up to and execution of the Games.

The issue is expected to form part of broader discussions on public spending oversight for major national and continental sporting programmes.