AFCON 2015: Ghana spends $8m on Black Stars

Youth and Sports Minister, Mahama Ayarigah on Wednesday, disclosed in Parliament that Government approved an amount of $4,774,519.19 million and GH¢3,242,580 for Ghana’s preparation and participation at the just-ended 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

He said out of the amount, $932,740 and Gh¢3,242,580 went into the boarding and lodging, air fare, per diem, friendly matches and other expenses of the Black Stars for its training camp in Seville, Spain.

Ayariga who was making a statement on the floor of Parliament on Ghana’s participation in the football fiesta in Equatorial Guinea said a further, $608,640 was approved for per diem, allowances, boarding and lodging and other expenses for the players and officials.

He said $3,224,139.20 of total approved amount went into bonuses and honorarium for the players, technical and management teams as a well as other officials of the team, indicating that the winning bonuses and honoraria of the technical team and other officials were reduced by between 20 and 30 percent over the “previous payment structure”.

The Minister’s explanation however, did not sit well with the Minority who doubted the figures divulged, wondering why the Minister did not give a thorough break down or itemized expenditure of the amount.

The Minority also wanted to know what was spent by government and the source of funding to airlift supporters from Ghana to Equatorial Guinea to cheer the Black Stars.

But the Minister told the House that the Youth and Sports Ministry was not involved in enplaning supporters to the tournament, adding, “My Ministry did not have a budget for sending supporters to the tournament. We were not involved with the transport of fans to Equatorial Guinea”.

The Minister’s answer incensed some Minority legislators who wanted to probe further but the Speaker of Parliament asked them to resort to the House’s procedures to request for further details on the cost of Ghana’s participation in the tournament.

Source: GNA