Court freezes Sports Ministry's accounts over $20m debt

The accounts of Ghana’s Ministry of Youth and Sports has been frozen by a court order, a situation that has rendered the ministry incapable of effecting its day-to-day activities.

The sports ministry continues to be plagued by concatenated weigh downs and the latest being a long-term creditor securing an order from the court to freeze the accounts of the body for a debt which dates back to 2008.

The Ministry has been unable to pay bonuses and per diems of some national teams in recent months with the national U-17 team Women’s team, the Black Maidens having to stage a protest to demand their bonuses after the World Cup in Jordan.

But according to the Ministry's Public Relations Officer, Ottor Plaha, the ministry’s account has been frozen after a company that provided services to the government for the hosting of the CAN 2008 secured a court order to do so.

Sports minister Nii Lante Vanderpuye also disclosed that, aside the CAN 2008 creditor, the ministry owes over $20million dollars with a chunk of the debt arising from the Black Stars expenses.

“As for the debt profile, it is very alarming because we are close to almost $20,000,000 and I can say that for sure when we put everything together”, the minister said

“In terms of hotels, ticketing and travel especially the various national teams’ matches from the Black Maidens up to the Black Stars that is where the chunk lies also in terms of catering, laundry and the rest”, he told the press.

“So we are owing a lot of money that were supposed to be used to run the administration, ministry, Youth Authority, Winneba Sports College and all our leadership training programmes have virtually been used for football”, he added.

Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament of Odododiodio is confident his outfit will offset all debtors through a strategic payment plan.