North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has recently obtained documents that confirm the Ghanaian government and the Ghana Football Association’s agreement on a staggering $8,506,450.00 budget for the preparation and participation of the 2023 AFCON tournament.
This substantial amount translates to a colossal GHS105 million at the current exchange rate.
According to Ablakwa, this GHS105 million is completely separate from the GHS27.9 million spent on the qualifiers. The intercepted letter from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, dated January 2nd, 2024, contains the requested partial payment of $5,071,840.36 from the total Black Stars budget of $8,506,450.00. The letter, signed by the Chief Director of the Ministry, Mr. William Kartey, on behalf of the Minister, Mustapha Ussif, raises questions about the reasoning behind such an exorbitant budget for a country grappling with financial difficulties, including defaulting on loans and seeking an IMF bailout.
Comparatively, the prize money for the winner of the ongoing AFCON in Ivory Coast is $7 million. Ablakwa highlights that even if the Black Stars had won the tournament, the budget would have resulted in losses exceeding $1.5 million. He questions why a country like Zambia can approve a budget of only $2.1 million for the same competition but Ghana, a financially distressed nation unable to provide basic amenities to its citizens, opts for such lavish spending.
Furthermore, Ablakwa emphasizes that the massive budget did not guarantee success on the pitch either. He claims that this exorbitant sum explains the efforts made by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government and FA officials to conceal the Black Stars AFCON budget, which raises concerns about their intentions.
Ablakwa vows that Parliament will investigate this astonishing budget when it reconvenes on February 6th, 2024. Ghana’s disappointment in the early exit of the Black Stars from the AFCON tournament for the second time in a row adds to the public’s frustration with the situation.
Source: Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen
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