Sports Ministry spent $1.5m on Black Stars AFCON 2023 qualifiers – Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the member of parliament for North Tongu, has disclosed that the Ghanaian government expended GHS 19,262,766.35, or $1.5 million, on Ghana’s participation in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers in Côte d’Ivoire.
The Member of Parliament claims that official records showed that the total cost of Ghana’s home and away matches against Angola was GHS7,452,437.71.
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The cost of Ghana’s two matches against Madagascar came to GHS8,395,434.13.
Ghana spent GHS3,414,894.51 on the two games it played against the Central African Republic.
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Ernest Nuamah’s 83rd-minute goal against the Central African Republic on the last day of qualifications sent Ghana to the Côte d’Ivoire 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The amount Ghana will receive for participating in the group stage has not yet been determined by CAF, but quarterfinalists will receive $1,300,000 in prize money.
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Ghana’s Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif reported to Parliament in 2022 that the nation had spent $2,500,000 on a campaign that was unsuccessful and terminated in the group stage.
Ghana’s relegation from the competition was sealed on Tuesday by Cameroon’s 3-2 victory over Gambia. The Black Stars in Ivory Coast only managed two points from their three group matches.
In the event that the Stars made it to the elimination round, they would have received a $30,000 qualification bonus.