Parliamentary Committees and Minority Caucus Demand Accountability for Over GH¢1.4 Billion in Mismanaged State Funds

Ghana's Parliament is intensifying its oversight of public expenditures as multiple reports of financial mismanagement emerge across the sports and health sectors. The Minority Caucus and various parliamentary committees are demanding a full accounting of more than GH¢1.4 billion related to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 2023 African Games, and COVID-19 pandemic responses. Central to these demands is a call for a line-by-line reconciliation of GH¢58 million spent on the recent World Cup campaign. Ranking Member of the Youth and Sports Committee, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, has raised concerns over reported irregularities in ticket purchases and supporter mobilization, specifically alleging that the Minister for Sports and Recreation's driver and a secretary from the Chief Director's office failed to return to Ghana following the tournament in the United States. In addition to the World Cup controversy, former Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif is set to appear before the Youth and Sports Committee to address GH¢580 million in financial irregularities uncovered by a forensic audit into the 2023 African Games. Previous testimonies from officials, including current Minister Kofi Adams and former LOC Chairman Dr. Kwaku Ofosu-Asare, indicate that procurement and contract management for the Games were handled directly by the Ministry rather than the organizing committee. The probe has faced hurdles as several key officials linked to the spending are currently outside the country. Meanwhile, a major investigative report by journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has exposed a massive misallocation of GH¢775 million during the COVID-19 pandemic. The report, titled "Auditing the Auditor-General," reveals that despite scientific evidence that the virus was primarily airborne, the government spent hundreds of millions on surface disinfection and fumigation. The investigation highlights a significant discrepancy with the Auditor-General's official figures, which initially recorded only GH¢96.3 million in such expenses. Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, the South Dayi MP and Majority Chief Whip, has since called for a fresh forensic audit of these COVID-19 funds, citing gaps in the reports provided to Parliament regarding spending by the Ministries of Education, Local Government, and Transport. These unfolding inquiries represent a critical test for institutional transparency under the administration of President John Mahama. The Minority Caucus insists that the publication of full traveler lists, passport numbers, and contract details is necessary to restore public trust. As lawmakers evaluate audit findings and witness testimonies, the focus remains on whether these investigations will lead to the recovery of misallocated state resources and the prosecution of those responsible for institutional failures that have diverted funds away from Ghana's struggling healthcare and sports infrastructure.