The Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the African Games –
Accra 2023 has refuted claims regarding the processes and amounts involved in awarding three contracts ahead of the multi-sport competition which was held between March 8–23, 2024.
According to the LOC, the country’s procurement laws, particularly the Public Procurement Act, 2002 (Act 663) as amended by Act 914, were followed in the contract award process with contracts requiring Parliamentary approval being approved before any payments were made.
Addressing a press conference on Monday in Accra, the Chair of the LOC, Dr. Kwaku Ofosu Asare, expressed surprise that the Chairman of Parliament’s Select Committee for Youth, Sports, and Tourism, Kobena Mensah Woyome, who had held several meetings with the LOC, had become the source of the false claims.
The LOC restricted the press conference to three contracts: the Games Management System, catering, and insurance. Dr. Ofosu Asare explained that other areas would be addressed by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, after a question was filed in Parliament and the LOC’s report, which will soon be completed.
“The reason we are here today is to interact with you and clarify some of the issues and figures that have been circulated. For instance, Honourable Kobena Woyome, who is the chair of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Youth and Sports, has access to parliamentary tools to ascertain facts and cross-check information. It is unfortunate that he is sharing incorrect figures with the media,” Dr. Ofosu Asare said.
He added, “It’s important to note that during the organization of the Games, Honourable Woyome met the LOC on three separate occasions at the request of the Parliamentary Select Committee. At no point did he seek information from the LOC itself to address queries related to the issuance of contracts.”
Dr. Ofosu Asare also mentioned that Honourable Woyome has filed a question in Parliament to which the Minister of Youth and Sports has responded. The minister is awaiting the Speaker of Parliament’s call to provide an official response. “This is why we are limiting our discussion today to these three contracts,” he stated.
Games Management System
Dr. Ofosu Asare clarified that the Games Management System, procured from Atos, cost $2,995,000. This contradicts Mr. Woyome’s claim that it cost $4.5 million.
The system, he explained, covers various aspects, including internet registration for participating athletes, accreditation, sports entry and qualification data, game results, volunteer and workforce management, and games time systems.