Audit finds sports projects exceeded budgets under former administration

An audit of the Sports Ministry has revealed that several government-funded projects carried out during former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s administration were completed with spending that exceeded the original contract value.

Auditor General’s Office, in its compliance report covering the 2018–2023 period, said 19 out of 129 audited projects were altered after initial approval, resulting in cost overruns exceeding MVR 10 million. In some cases, these changes occurred after contracts had expired, which the report flagged as a breach of financial regulations.

According to the report, the ministry failed to prepare detailed procurement documents for any of the reviewed projects, despite regulations mandating comprehensive documentation, including bill of quantities (BOQs), designs, specifications, and cost estimates before tenders are issued.

“The failure to anticipate necessary changes, consult stakeholders like island councils, and prepare complete documentation led to numerous budget overruns,” the audit said.

In four sample projects alone, payments exceeding MVR 3.9 million were made in violation of financial rules, according to the report. The audit concluded that some of the modifications that led to additional payments were made without proper justification or were implemented after contracts had lapsed.

Former Sports Minister Ahmed Mahloof, responding to the report, said that auditors did not raise major concerns during his time in office and had never formally recommended improvements.

In a post on social media, Mahloof said the ministry had managed more than 500 projects at full speed, and welcomed any investigations into potential corruption.

“I believe improvements can always be made, and any wrongdoing should be investigated,” Mahloof said.