2023 African Games: Government owes 28 hotels - Sports Minister

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, has revealed that the government is yet to pay 28 hotels that provided accommodation during the 2023 African Games.

According to the Sports Minister, the government engaged 44 hotels for the African Games but has managed to pay 16 hotels that were owed debts.

At a press briefing in Accra on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, Mustapha Ussif clarified that his ministry has been able to pay 40% of the debts owed to the 28 remaining hotels.

“We engaged 44 hotels during the African Games and as we speak, only 28 of them are being owed by the ministry, the rest have all been paid in full 100%.”

“So, when I saw the report that over 48 hotels threatened to sue the Ministry because of non-payment of bills, those reports were not accurate.”

“We have paid the remaining 28 hotels more than 40% and when we receive the funding, they will be paid. When you have a budget, it doesn’t mean that you have money. As and when we receive money, the rest will be catered for,” he said.

The government of Ghana allocated a $47 million operational budget for the 2023 African Games hosted between March 8 to March 23, 2024.

JNA/NOQ