Ghana spent US$3m at 2023 AFCON - Minister confirms US$8.5m budget to parliament

Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif has given an account of Ghana's expenditure at the 2023 AFCON, stating that the ministry spent a little over $3 million.

Mustapha Ussif confirmed in Parliament on February 14, 2024, that the ministry budgeted $8,506,450.00 for the tournament that Ivory Coast hosted.

He noted that the Ministry of Finance released $5,071,840.36 out of the budgeted amount. He explained that his office spent $3,070,067.81 out of the $5 million to cover costs incurred from pre-AFCON camping and the group stage campaign.

The minister noted that the money was spent on per diems, flights, medicals, equipment, logistics, and hospitality. He, therefore, returned a balance of US$2,001,772.55.

In his address, the minister mentioned that the telecommunications network, MTN Ghana, gave the team $400,000, which, in his words, "contributed immensely in complimenting government's expenditure."

The Black Stars pitched their pre-tournament camping in Ghana, where they played Namibia in a friendly at Kumasi.

Despite the assurance of ending Ghana's over 40-year wait for a trophy, the team came up short and had a poor outing at the 2023 AFCON, drawing two and losing one of their three games played in Group B.

A 2-1 defeat to Cape Verde in the opening game was followed by 2-2 draws with Egypt and Mozambique in the second and final group matches, respectively.

With just two points and a goal deficit, the Black Stars recorded successive group-stage exits from the AFCON, having suffered the same fate in the 2021 edition.

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EE/Ek