LOC confirms $15 million allocation for feeding participants at the 2023 African Games
1st October 2024
The Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 2023 African Games has announced that $15 million was allocated for the provision of meals for 12,902 participants throughout the event.
This funding ensured that athletes, team officials, technical officers, and volunteers received four meals each day during the competition.
Kobena Woyome, Chairman of Parliament's Select Committee for Youth, Sports, and Tourism, previously claimed that the expenditure was meant to "feed athletes for 18 days.
" However, the LOC clarified that the funds were actually intended to cover meal provision for a total of 23 days.
During a press conference on Wednesday, LOC Chairman Dr. Kwaku Ofosu-Asare stated, “The amount is $15 million, and it provided four meals—breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks—per day for 23 days, not the 15, 18, or 10 figures being mentioned.”
He emphasized that this substantial budget catered to a diverse group of individuals, including athletes, team officials, technical personnel, local and foreign media members, security staff, volunteers, medical officers, transport teams, VIPs, and dignitaries.
Kwesi Mantey, Chairman of the Catering Sub-committee for the event, noted that 7.5 percent was deducted from the $15 million for withholding tax.
The LOC contracted M and L Company Limited to handle the food services throughout the Games.
In light of these clarifications, Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif is scheduled to appear before Parliament to provide a detailed breakdown of the overall expenditures related to the Games.
The 2023 African Games, held from March 8 to 23, 2024, marked a significant milestone for Ghana as it hosted the event for the first time, securing an impressive total of 69 medals during the competition.