Fred Forson, leader of the Aggrieved Customers of Menzgold, criticized the government for spending money on hosting the 13th All African Games while Ghana faces electricity shortages.
Mustapha Ussif, the Youth and Sports Minister, confirmed that $195 million was spent on infrastructure for the 2023 African Games. The Games will occur from March 8 to March 23, mainly at the Borteyman Sports Complex and University of Ghana Stadium, with 15 other venues supporting.
During a press briefing on Monday, March 4, 2024, Minister Ussif detailed the infrastructure spending. $145 million went to building a sports center at Borteyman, $34 million to renovate the University of Ghana Stadium, and $16 million to refurbish the Games Village.
Fred Forson highlighted Ghana’s power outages, known as ‘Dumsor’, accusing the government of covering it up. He questioned why Ghana faces frequent outages every seven years and criticized the government for spending on the Games while struggling to supply electricity. He emphasized that Ghana lacks funds for fuel but is paying officials for the Games.
Ghana’s Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) cut power to Parliament due to a $1.8 million debt, disrupting a debate on the president’s State of the Nation speech.
Forson commented on the situation, stating that Ghana should prioritize electricity over hosting the Games. He expressed disappointment that Ghana struggles with electricity stability yet spends on hosting events. He shared his concerns during an interview on Ahotor 92.3 FM.
LISTEN TO FRED FORSON IN THE AUDIO BELOW:
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh(#RomeoWrites) / Ahotoronline.com
