The Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 2023 African Games has confirmed that $15 million was allocated for feeding 12,902 participants during the event.
The LOC clarified that the funds were used to provide meals for a range of stakeholders, including athletes, team officials, technical officers, volunteers, and others, who were fed four times a day—breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks—over a span of 23 days.
This clarification came in response to earlier claims by Kobena Woyome, Chairman of Parliament’s Select Committee for Youth, Sports, and Tourism, who stated that the $15 million was spent to feed athletes for just 18 days. LOC Chairman Dr. Kwaku Ofosu-Asare corrected the statement at a press conference, emphasizing that the funds covered a 23-day period.
“The amount is $15 million, and the meals were provided four times a day for athletes, team officials, technical officers, local and foreign media, security personnel, volunteers, medical officers, the transport team, VIPs, and dignitaries,” Dr. Ofosu-Asare explained.
Kwesi Mantey, Chairman of the Catering Sub-committee, also noted that 7.5% of the $15 million was deducted as withholding tax. The company contracted to provide the food during the Games was M and L Company Limited.
In the meantime, Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif is expected to appear before Parliament to provide a full breakdown of the overall expenditure for the Games.
Ghana hosted the African Games from March 8 to 23, 2024, marking the country’s first time hosting the event. The nation secured 69 medals during the competition.
