The Member of Parliament for North Tongu in the Volta Region, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has voiced his concerns over the financial strain placed on Ghanaian taxpayers due to the expenses incurred by the national football team, the Black Stars.
In a reaction to the team’s untimely exit from the 2023 AFCON Tournament in Côte d’Ivoire, the National Democratic Congress lawmaker highlighted the extraordinary sacrifices made by struggling taxpayers and called for greater respect and commitment from the players.
The Honorable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa strongly asserted that while the Black Stars representing the nation on the international stage brings pride and honour to the country, it is essential for the players to recognize the economic challenges faced by the country.
According to him, documents submitted to Parliament by the Youth and Sports Ministry revealed staggering expenditures related to the Black Stars’ activities during the 2023 AFCON Qualifiers and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
The Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament further claimed that the various expenditures amount to a colossal GHS27,967,036.34.
“Documents submitted to Parliament by Ghana’s Youth and Sports Ministry a few weeks ago have shed light on a number of these Black Stars expenditure items: (1) 2024 AFCON Qualifier (Ghana V Angola — Home & Away) — GHS7,452,437.71 (2) 2024 AFCON Qualifier (Ghana V Madagascar — Home & Away) — GHS8,395,434.13 93) 2024 AFCON Qualifier (Ghana V Central Africa Republic — Home & Away) — GHS3,414,894.51 (4) April to June 2023 salaries of the coach & signing on fees — GHS3,379,548.10 (5).
“The official ministerial documents also reveal that it cost taxpayers a significant GHS5,324,721.89 to airlift supporters of the Black Stars during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar”.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
Furthermore, the North Tongu Member of Parliament posited that the massive spending on Black Stars-related activities occurred during historic economic crisis, and further argued that the figure does not include the latest tournament expenditure items in La Côte d’Ivoire.
The North Tongu Member of Parliament also hinted at forthcoming revelations regarding the latest tournament expenditure items in La Côte d’Ivoire, suggesting that more financial scrutiny may be on the horizon for the Black Stars and the entities involved in managing the national football team.
The Honorable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa further posited that the GHS27.9 million spent on the national football team could have been allocated to address pressing national issues, such as the inability to raise GHS4 million to save lives at Korle-Bu’s renal unit.
He urged players of the senior national team and Ghana Football Association (GFA) officials to acknowledge the broader national problems and reconsider the financial impact of their activities.
As the country grapples with unprecedented financial challenges affecting even the most vulnerable citizens, the call for fiscal responsibility in the realm of sports has gained momentum.
GFA Parts Ways With Coach Hughton After AFCON 2023 Disappointment
Meanwhile, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has officially announced the termination of Chris Hughton’s role as the head coach of the national football team.
The decision comes following a series of underwhelming performances that saw Ghana fail to secure a victory in their three group-stage matches.
The GFA’s statement, released four hours after the confirmation of Ghana’s premature exit from AFCON 2023, also revealed the dissolution of the entire technical team associated with the Black Stars. The move signals a significant shake-up in the leadership and coaching structure of the national team.
“The Ghana Football Association regrets to announce the termination of Chris Hughton’s role as the head coach of the Black Stars. We acknowledge the disappointment and frustration of our fans and stakeholders and assure them that we are committed to taking the necessary steps to revitalize the national team.”
Ghana Football Association
The Ghana Football Association further stated that, in the coming days, they will unveil a comprehensive roadmap outlining the future plans for the Black Stars.
According to the statement, it roadmap would include the appointment of a new head coach and the restructuring of the technical team to ensure a fresh start for the national football squad.
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