[ 2015-01-02 ]

AFCON 2015: No money for Stars camping?
Ghana’s Black Stars will embark on their
training tour of Spain on Sunday without funds
from the Consolidated Fund as has been the norm.

The Graphic Sports can authoritatively confirm
that the team would be travelling without money
from the government, following a directive to the
Ghana Football Association (GFA) to use the
remaining World Cup money for the AFCON 2015
campaign.

According to Graphic Sports investigations, the
latest decision followed a recent crucial meeting
between the GFA and the Ministry of Youth and
Sports when it was agreed that a contingency
measure be employed to facilitate the trip to
Spain.

Consequently, the GFA was advised to fall on the
$3.1 million World Cup balance, while the
government sought funds to reimburse the FA later
on.

This was after the GFA’s AFCON budget presented
to the Finance Ministry through the Ministry of
Youth and Sports was temporarily shelved pending
government approval.

The Brazil 2014 World Cup prize money stirred
controversy a couple of months ago after the GFA
defied a directive by the Presidential Commission
of Inquiry to Ghana’s World Cup fiasco to return
the entire $7.1million to the chest.

Instead of $8million, FIFA ended up transferring
$7.1million into the FA’s account after
deductions, out of which a Kwesi Nyantakyi –led
GFA delegation presented a $4.1million cheque to
the Sports Minister Mahama Ayariga as refund of
the Star’s World Cup appearance fees.

Until the latest government call, the GFA had
remained adamant by not paying the $3.1millon to
the government despite pressure from all angles.

The Stars are expected to leave for Spain on
Sunday to finalise preparations for the 2015 AFCON
scheduled for Equatorial Guinea between

January 17 and February 8.

Meanwhile, authorities of Ministry of Finance were
unavailable for their comments.

Source - Daily Graphic

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