The Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has once again blown the whistle on the alleged mismanagement of public funds by the ruling Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration.
According to the lawmaker, the government is still using the 13th African Games as a tool to “withdraw huge sums of money from our national coffers”. He further alleged that the Akufo-Addo-led regime has siphoned over GHC168 million from the country’s coffers, five months after the Games ended.
In a social media post sighted by Awake News, Mr. Ablakwa revealed that the Ministry of Finance released an amount of GH₵460million before the end of the Games. This amount, the MP said, was “in excess of what Parliament approved”.
He went on to share details about the money that the government has taken from the country after the Games came to a close in March 2024.
Mr. Ablakwa further called on the President and Vice President to explain what this money was used for, saying, “This haemorrhage cannot continue when many sectors are being starved of resources as economic conditions of Ghanaians deteriorate uncontrollably.”
The former Deputy Minister for Education expressed concerns about the lack of transparency in the current government. He called out the Sports Minister, Mustapha Ussif, to provide an account of the Games.
“Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif keeps running from parliamentary accountability but let him know that his days are numbered,” the MP wrote.
Read Ablakwa’s full post below
The 13th African Games ended in Accra as far back as March 23, 2024, however, intercepted financial documents reveal that the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government continues to withdraw huge sums of money from our national coffers in the name of the games.
So far, a staggering GHS168,386,331.00 has been withdrawn in the last few weeks, long after the games.
1) On May 17th, 2024 — GHS70,000,000.00 was released to the Sports Ministry under a transaction description: Payment for 13th African Games;
2) On July 3rd, 2024 — GHS30,000,000.00 was released to the Sports Ministry under a transaction description: Payment for 13th African Games;
3) On July 16th, 2024 — GHS30,000,000.00 was released to the Sports Ministry under a transaction description: Payment for 13th African Games;
4) On July 16, 2024 — Additional same day release of GHS38,386,331.00 to the Sports Ministry under the transaction description: Payment for 13th African Games.
These bizarre releases continue despite the Finance Ministry already releasing over GHS460million before the closing ceremony — which is an amount far in excess of what Parliament approved.
The Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government must immediately explain to Ghanaians what these humongous post tournament releases are being used for and exactly when the unending payments will stop.
This haemorrhage cannot continue when many sectors are being starved of resources as economic conditions of Ghanaians deteriorate uncontrollably.
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.
For God and Country.
Ghana First 🇬🇭
