Almost $200,000 spent on World Cup ball – Report

The World Cup Project Committee for the Black Stars participation at the Brazil 2014 World Cup spent $188,665 on a fundraising dinner hosted ahead of the tournament.

The Dzamefe Commission of Inquiry’s report into matters relating to Ghana’s participation at the World Cup has revealed that $26,323 was spent of decoration for the “World Cup Dinner Ball” that was aimed at raising support for the team’s participation at competition.

The report available to GNA Sports puts production and logistics cost of the event that took place at the Banquet Hall and chaired by President John Mahama at $162, 342.

The dinner was a send off for the Black Stars who exited the competition at the group phase with off the field agitations that saw players refusing to train following their demand for a cash payment for their $100,000 appearance fee.

According to the report, the Committee spent $105,005 in prestigious assorted flags for the campaign, Ghana’s worse in three successive appearances.

Also captured by the report is $94,800 spent on events logistics and staging whereas $76,970 was used for Ghana Activation Centre logistics and structures.

The Committee further spent $23,560 for the production of the World Cup Magazines.

The report cited $42,253 as unsupported cost as presented by the Committee during the Commission’s work that span four months.

It reported that $11,200 unsupported cost was said to have been used for operational and protocol expenses while accommodation and feeding of supporters cost $18,250.

Additionally, over five thousand dollars was used in feeding stranded supporters at Fortaleza, venue for Ghana’s last Group D match with Portugal where the Black Stars needed to win to advance.

Meanwhile, a cost of GH¢38,590 is attributed to meetings involving Corporate Ghana, the World Cup Implementation Committee and President Mahama.

Source: GNA