Auditor-General recommends sanctions for Ussif, Dr Ofosu-Asare and Kartey over GHC 726m administrative lapses, procurement breaches

The Auditor-General has recommended sanctions against former senior officials of the Ministry of Sports and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) after uncovering procurement breaches, weak financial controls, and unexplained expenditures. Former Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif, former Chief Director William Kartey, and former LOC Chairman Dr. Kwaku Ofosu-Asare are named as the key officials to be sanctioned under Section 92 of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663), as amended. The administrative irregularities flagged in the report amount to approximately GHC1.15 billion (GHC1,149,809,221.50), alongside USD 5.2 million in revenue-related losses and cash control breaches.

The audit concludes that the irregularities were not isolated, but systemic-spanning contract design, procurement approvals, payment structures, cash management, and post-contract accountability. Breaches include uncompetitive procurement approvals, single-source contract justifications, weak or absent price benchmarking, poor contract structuring and oversight failures, and failure to enforce procurement compliance systems. Prof. Amin Alhassan (Director-General, GBC) is also recommended for sanctions or liability in relation to broadcast procurement irregularities and staff deployment issues.

The audit found that GHC18.9 million was spent on unqualified contractor engagement with JDK Travel & Tours. GHC336.63 million in fixed payments were made for variable services without usage verification systems. Equipment not supplied due to schedule changes resulted in GH¢38.82 million being paid. A major red flag emerged around JDK Travel & Tours, Delovely Co. Ltd, and Jorninas Co. Ltd, all linked to a single beneficial owner, with a total exposure of GHC150.62 million. Contracts were executed without itemised pricing or