Guinean activists petition prosecutor over $250 million stadium renovation funds

The citizen movement Tournons La Page (TLP-Guinée) has formally petitioned the Special Prosecutor at the Court for the Repression of Economic and Financial Offenses (CRIEF) regarding the management of funds for stadium renovations in Guinea.

The group is alleging mismanagement, overbilling, and a lack of transparency concerning the renovation of the 28-Septembre and Général Lansana Conté de Nongo stadiums. TLP-Guinée highlighted discrepancies in reported costs, noting that Sports Minister Mamadou Cellou Baldé recently cited a $250 million investment. Former Sports Minister Kéamou Bogola Haba reportedly confirmed this figure, suggesting $120 million for the Nongo stadium and $130 million for the 28-Septembre stadium.

The movement expressed concern over the absence of public access to contracts, amendments, and financial statements from the Agency for the Control of Major Projects (ACGP). Furthermore, TLP-Guinée pointed to significant budgetary contradictions, noting that while previous estimates in 2024 suggested costs exceeding 2,000 billion Guinean francs, only 21 billion francs were officially recorded in the budget.