Will gov’t sink Ghc24m into Brazil 2014?

Parliament Tuesday approved a total of Ghc36 million for the Sports Ministry to expend in the 2014 fiscal year, but it is not yet clear if the initial budget estimate of Ghc24 million needed to sponsor the Black Stars for the 2014 World Cup will be sharply affected.

The Ministry, according to Deputy Youth and Sports Minister, Joseph Yamin, presented to the budget Committee of the finance Ministry before the presentation of the 2014 budget, an estimate of Ghc24 million for sponsorship for the senior national team, the Black Stars, for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

In the budget approved for the Ministry Tuesday however, no specific amount was allotted to the Black Stars’ participation in the 2014 World Cup.

It is therefore unclear if the Ministry will go ahead to use the estimated Ghc24 million for the World Cup or change its plans so as to whittle down the cost.

Should the proposed amount of Ghc24 million be used for the World Cup, only Ghc12 million of the Sports Ministry’s entire budget of Ghc36 million for the whole year, would be left for its other projects.

Mr Yamin told Radio XYZ's Strict Proof on Tuesday that the Ministry will see how best to manage the approved budget by reviewing the Ministry’s plans for the Black Stars’ participation in Brazil 2014.

The Ranking member of the Parliamentary select committee on Youth and Sports, Isaac Asiamah, has however raised concerns about the failure by the Ministry to allot a specific figure to the World Cup campaign, a situation he bemoans risks opening an avenue for corruption.

“…How can we go for a tournament – the major one in Brazil – and we don’t know the amount being spent on the team’s preparation and participation?”

“This is where corruption begins; lack of transparency and accountability. That’s where corruption begins,” he told XYZ News’ Parliamentary Correspondent Ibrahim Alhassan.

He said the lack of clarity on the sponsorship package makes the situation even more worrying since the Youth and Sports Minister, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, told Parliament that the Ghc24 million estimate was speculative.