Chairman for the Parliamentary Select Committee on Youth, Sports and Culture, Alex Agyekum, has heap praises on the Youth and Sports Minister, Isaac Asiamah, for revealing in Parliament that the country spent $4.5 million dollars on Black Stars at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
According to Alex Agyekum, the move will put to rest the numerous figures being circulated in the media fraternity.
Alex Agyekum speaking on Happy FM’s ‘Anopa Bosuo Sports’ with Ohene Brenya-Bampoe said, “Isaac Asiamah put to rest the rumors about the AFCON budget for the Black Stars in the media. The move is an action in the right direction because it’s better to speak out than to keep quiet.”
He added, “There was no additional note to the expenditure paper Asiamah presented. So the select committee on culture and sports will sit with him to get the breakdown because we can’t do it on the floor of parliament and be asking questions like how much he bought onion etc. It’s doesn’t happen like that. He will come back with the report from the auditor general in parliament when they are done.
“I don’t think he disrespected parliament by not coming to parliament with the budget before going to the tournament,” he opined.
Ghana budgeted 6.3 million US Dollars for the Black Stars training camp and AFCON campaign. Out of that, 4.5 million dollars was used. The remaining 1. 7 million dollars will be returned to the state.
Ghana’s dream of ending a 37-year wait for a trophy was ended via penalty shootouts defeat to Tunisia in the Round of 16.
The expenditure covered the following:
The playing body
Technical team
Members of Parliament’s Select Committee on Youth and Sports
Representatives of GHALCA
Representatives of Old Footballers
Some staff of the GFA
Some staff of the Ministry of Youth and Sports
Some members of the Ghana Supporters Union
Journalists
A further breakdown of the expenditure is provided as follows:
Airfare – $924,168
Per diem, players – $187,050
Per diem, technical staff – $129, 600
Per diem, additional technical staff – $90,750
Winning bonus, players – $965, 405
Winning bonus, technical – $347,027
Winning bonus, additional technical staff – $177,000
Accommodation – $1,143,519
Feeding – $419,300
Match Tickets 0 $41,750
Medicals – $44,574
Visa Fees – $8,541
Internal Transportation -$43,092
Incidentals – $42,576
Total; $4,564,352