The Minister for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, has disclosed in Parliament that the Ghanaian government spent slightly over $3 million on the unsuccessful campaign of the senior national soccer team, the Black Stars, at the AFCON 2023 tournament.
Additionally, the minister confirmed that the government had allocated a budget of more than $8.5 million for the overall tournament.
Expressing disappointment at the Black Stars’ early exit from the competition without securing a single victory, Minister Mustapha Ussif emphasized the need for a national dialogue to examine the recurring shortcomings of the team over the past four decades and to address broader issues in sports development within the country.
During the parliamentary session, various Members of Parliament took the opportunity to voice their concerns regarding the team’s performance. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the MP for North Tongu, criticized the government for what he deemed an excessive expenditure on the AFCON, labeling it a waste of resources.
Frank Annoh-Dompreh, the Majority Chief Whip, called on the government to take decisive action against the Ghana Football Association (GFA), regardless of potential consequences from FIFA, for their perceived role in the team’s failures. He also presented a petition on behalf of the #SaveGhanaFootball protesters, who were present in the gallery during the proceedings.
In response to these issues and the public backlash surrounding the Black Stars’ underwhelming performance, the government aims to engage in a thorough national dialogue to diagnose the root causes and implement necessary changes to avoid similar outcomes in the future.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana
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