Spokesman of the Local Organizing Committee of the African Games 2023, Dan Kwaku Yeboah, said Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa’s recent disclosures about the government budget and spending schedule for the African Games were for political expediency. insisted.
Mr. Dan Kwaku Yeboah has been an ardent follower and admirer of Mr. Okudzeto Ablakwa for many years, but the only explanation he gives for his doubts regarding the 13th African Games is that he (Ablakwa) He said that he was trying to score points for his party. National Democratic Convention.
Mr. Kwaku Yeboah, in an interview with NEET FM, did not dispute or deny the figures cited by Mr. Ablakwa in his revelation, but rather took offense at the commentary that accompanied it.
He claims that Beitun constituency MPs made a “simple calculation” to limit the $48 million budget for “operating expenses” to the period of the convention.
Kwaku Yeboah explained that the budget was to meet the expenses of the event ahead of the 18-day period during which Ghana will host the Games.
“Part of his argument is due to the season we are in. I know that any intelligent Oxet would not make that kind of analysis on a normal day. The LOC was formed in October 2020, so if you calculate our costs based on that, just for the 18 days the tournament will be held, you are naive.According to his calculations, 33.4 million per day You will be spending GH₵, which in old currency is 33 billion cedis per day. Are you going to kill a cow every day in the LOC?” he asked.
Dan Kwaku Yeboah also reminded Ghanaians that hosting tournaments like the African Games costs a lot of money.
He highlighted some of the things that Mr. Okuzet Ablakwa contributed to the elephantine budget.
“You have to understand that the African Games cost money. Unlike FIFA or CAF, who give you money to host a tournament, the African Union would rather you give them money to win the right to host a tournament. I am receiving
“We host 29 sports and we have to buy equipment for all the athletes who participate in all 29 sports.According to WADA, Ghana has no standards for anti-doping. “All future doping tests conducted during competition will be finalized in Switzerland, as there is no regular testing laboratory,” he added.
Twi news
On Monday, February 26, 2024, Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa came with a document revealing the purported operating budget of the 13th African Games.
He accused President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the Ministry of Sports and the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of being complicit in the ballooning expenditure.
In a post on social media, he said: “Shockingly, the three organizations have agreed to pay 48 million yen for the so-called ‘operating costs’ of the 13th African Games to be held in Ghana during this period. “We have agreed to spend a huge, illegal and unconscionable amount of US dollars.” From March 5th to March 23rd, 2024.
“2. It must be noted that this staggering amount of US$48 million is completely different from the huge amount of US$195 million (GHS2.4 billion) already spent on gaming infrastructure. It won’t.
“3. At prevailing exchange rates, US$48 million equates to a huge amount of GHS602 million,” he added.
E.K.