Corruption Watch Petitions AG Over Ownership of Hohoe, Agogo Public Sports Facilities

Accra, Ghana — Corruption Watch has petitioned the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice to investigate the ownership, control and management of the publicly funded Hohoe Stadium/Astroturf and the Agogo Sports and Cultural Complex.

The organisation is also seeking an investigation into private interests reportedly registered or asserted over the lands on which the two facilities are situated.

The petition follows an investigative documentary by Corruption Watch titled “Publicly Funded, Privately Controlled! The Multi-Million-Cedi Astroturf Exposé,” which examined the financing, construction, ownership and management of the two facilities involving more than GH¢17 million in public funds.

Corruption Watch says the investigation raises significant questions about how publicly funded infrastructure can come under private control and whether adequate safeguards were put in place to protect public investments.

“Publicly-funded infrastructure should not, without lawful authority and transparent arrangements, migrate into private ownership or control.”

Hohoe facility

According to Corruption Watch, the Hohoe facility was constructed by Wembley Sports Construction Company Limited under a contract with the Hohoe Municipal Assembly, with substantial funding from state institutions.

The organisation says its investigation established that the facility was not formally handed over to the Assembly but has instead been under the control and/or management of persons associated with former Hohoe Member of Parliament and Minister, John Peter Amewu.

Corruption Watch further says its investigation found that the land on which the Hohoe facility is situated has been registered in the name of Thomas Amewu, the brother of Mr John Peter Amewu.

The Hohoe Municipal Assembly has since publicly stated that it considers the facility to be state property and intends to demand its handover.

Agogo Sports and Cultural Complex

At Agogo, Corruption Watch says the Sports and Cultural Complex was fully funded by the Ghana National Gas Company Limited (Ghana Gas) and constructed by Wembley Sports Construction Company Limited.

The organisation says Owusu Bempah, who was then a senior Ghana Gas official, asserted ownership and/or control over the facility and also claimed an interest in the underlying land.

The facility was commissioned in 2022 and, according to Corruption Watch, was privately operated while its ownership remained in contention.

The organisation says the Asante Akim North Municipal Assembly took custody of the facility in 2024 following a directive from Ghana Gas.

However, Corruption Watch says Mr Owusu Bempah continues to assert ownership over the land on which the facility is situated.

Land ownership concerns

Corruption Watch says determining ownership of the underlying lands is just as important as establishing ownership and control of the physical facilities.

“Where millions of cedis of public funds are invested in permanent infrastructure, there must be certainty about ownership of the underlying land and adequate legal safeguards to protect the public investment.”

The organisation is therefore asking the Attorney-General to work with the Lands Commission and other relevant institutions to investigate the chain of title and circumstances surrounding the registration, acquisition or assertion of private interests in the lands.

This includes interests associated with Thomas Amewu in Hohoe and Owusu Bempah in Agogo, as well as determining what legal or equitable interests the respective Assemblies or the State hold or previously held in the lands.

Contracts and due diligence

Corruption Watch is also asking the Attorney-General to review all relevant contracts, payment and completion records, Assembly reports, correspondence, land records and other documentation relating to the financing, construction, ownership and management of the two facilities.

The organisation wants authorities to establish what land-title due diligence was conducted before public funds were committed to the projects and what representations concerning land ownership were made to the Assemblies and funding institutions.

It is also seeking clarification on the legal safeguards that were put in place to protect the public investments.

Revenue generated from facilities

The petition further calls for an investigation into whether revenues were generated from either facility while they were outside the control of the respective Municipal Assemblies.

Corruption Watch wants authorities to establish who collected any such revenues and whether any amounts should be accounted for or recovered for the benefit of the Assemblies or the State.

The organisation is also asking the Attorney-General to determine whether any contractor or other person breached contractual or legal obligations relating to the completion, handover or management of the facilities.

Call for investigation into possible wrongdoing

Corruption Watch is calling for further investigation where evidence points to possible procurement or financial irregularities, corruption, conflict of interest, abuse of office or other suspected wrongdoing.

It wants any relevant matters referred to the appropriate investigative, regulatory or prosecutorial institutions for further action.

The organisation has also called on relevant state agencies to investigate the use of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) resources by State-Owned Enterprises to finance public infrastructure, particularly where such resources may have been used for personal benefit or political campaign purposes.

Protection of public interest

Corruption Watch is ultimately asking the Attorney-General to take all necessary legal steps to secure the lawful public control of both facilities and to protect, preserve or recover any interest of the State or the respective Municipal Assemblies in the underlying lands.

The organisation says it is seeking a determination of the complete legal position surrounding the facilities and their lands.

“Corruption Watch is therefore asking the Attorney-General to establish the complete legal position regarding the Hohoe and Agogo facilities and their underlying lands and take appropriate action to protect the public interest.”

It has also asked the Attorney-General to take any other relief, order, directive or remedial action considered necessary and in the public interest based on the findings of the petition.

story by : Mark Acheampong