Abronye DC
The 2019 African Cup Of Nations budget expenditure of the Black Stars has stirred controversies and generated heated arguments among Ghanaian soccer fans and the country at large.
The Minister of Sports, Isaac Asiamah, on the floor of Parliament, gave a breakdown of the 4.5 million budget that was expended during the AFCON 2019 but the public outcry over the Minister's revelations is overwhelming.
NPP ardent member Abronye DC, in a statement copied to Peacefmonline.com, has asked the NDC to cast their minds back to the mess they created in the Sports sector.
"Under the John Mahama led NDC administration an unprecedented 8 million dollars (GH¢15 million) was presented to the Ghana Football Association for preparations towards African Cup of Nations in South Africa. However, it was later established that, Contrary to what was known by the public that $8million was budgeted for Afcon 2013, $15million was actually spent".
He wondered why the NDC would today turn back to lambast the NPP over the AFCON budget.
Read the full statement below;
EXPOSING THE NDC WITH REGARDS TO AFCON 2019 AFTERMATH AND MATTERS ARISING
The 2019 African Cup Of Nations budget expenditure of the Black Stars has invariably generated a lot of arguments and concerns.
I will like to use this opportunity to set the records straight
HISTORY OF GHANA’s AFCON BUDGET EXPENDITURE FROM 2008 TO DATE
AFCON 2008
In 2008, under the NPP administration led by President Kuffour, the Black stars spent Ghs 2 million Cedis.
The Ghana Football Association and other collaborators embarked on a project to raise GH¢2million towards the Black Stars' campaign in 2008 African Cup of Nations.
The money, was solely sourced from individuals in the public, corporate bodies, and various other institutions. Source: 14/09/2007 Graphic Sports Page 3.
This means that, under the NPP led president Kuffour administration, the government did not spend any taxpayers money on the Black Stars.
AFCON 2010
Under the NDC led President Mills administration and Akua Sena Dansua as sports minister, the Blacks Starts Because Of massive corruption did not publicly disclose the budget of the black stars at the Afcon 2010 tournament hosted at Angola. But per my personal investigations and reliable information, the ministry spent close to $8.5 million on the Black Stars at the tournament. The Black stars, however, went to the finals of the tournament with Egypt and lost.
AFCON 2012
At the African Cup Of Nations at Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, The John Mahama NDC administration spent almost $8million on the Black Stars without considering protecting the public purse and ensuring Value for money
AFCON 2013
Under the John Mahama led NDC administration an unprecedented 8 million dollars (GH¢15 million) was presented to the Ghana Football Association for preparations towards African Cup of Nations in South Africa.
However, it was later established that, Contrary to what was known by the public that $8million was budgeted for Afcon 2013, $15million was actually spent.
The budget included $100,000 each for two friendly matches, even though it is known that guest teams typically do not pay appearance fees.
All expenses include winning bonuses and per diem allowances, including $150 to be paid to each official every day while players will get $100 a day.
Under President Mahama, the winning bonuses for players and officials were increased by 50 per cent - from what they got during AFCON 2012 - to a new high of $15,000.
The budget also included $15,000 for laundry services, with the same amount quoted for the Abu Dhabi tour as well. There was also a $200,000 provision for unspecified protocol and also, the nation gave out $100,000 for scouting. And then, as well, there will be $5,000 for entertainment whilst $70,000 was budgeted for media relations.
Jonathan Abbey Pobi a football administrator and a former member of the Black Stars Management Committee noted clearly that even though the country budgeted $8million for the tournament, they ended up spending $15million in South Africa 2013.
AFCON 2015 ( NDC LED PRESIDENT MAHAMA)
The Government of Ghana under Ex-President John Mahama spent six million dollars of the taxpayer's money on the senior national team, the Black Stars in the Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea.
According to the Sports Minister, Mahama Ayariga, government spent 4.774, 519.19 million dollars and 3.242,580 million Ghana cedis which sums up to $5.8 million dollars. He announced this on the floor of Parliament when ordered by the Speaker, Edward Doe Adjaho to present a statement on the participation of the Black Stars in Equatorial Guinea.
Mahama Ayariga who is currently battling corruption charges in court noted that part of the amount went into the team’s camping in Spain as well as bonus payments. He told the House that the government spent $932,740 and 3,243,580 Ghana cedis on the team's preparation in Spain.
AFCON 2017 (NPP LED PREZ. AKUFFO ADDO
The NPP administration inherited a precedent of spending $6 million on the Black Stars from the NDC however, because of the President underpinning policy of protecting the public purse and ensuring value for money, the Black stars budget was slashed to $3.37 million at the Garbon 2017 AFCON tournament.
President Akuffo-Addo ensured that the taxpayers were given value for their money.
This is so far the lowest amount paid to the Black Stars in an international tournament since 2010.
AFCON 2019
In the just-ended AFCON, the Ministry Of Sports spent $4.5 million on the black stars and suddenly the NDC is complaining as if dame has never happened before.
FIFA WORLD CUP 2006
Under President Kuffour, the black Stars spent $4million on the 2006 World Cup.
FIFA WORLD CUP 2010
Addressing a press a conference in Accra, Akua Sena Dansua, Minister of Youth and Sports, said the NDC Led John Mahama Government of Ghana spent close to 15 million dollars on Ghana's participation in the just ended 2010 Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) World Cup in South Africa.
The amount was spent on the senior national team, the Black Stars, officials and the 1,500 supporters, sponsored by the NDC JOHN MAHAMA government to witness the event.
Out of the approximately 15 million dollars, 6.255.572.68 million dollars expenditure was made on the Black Stars, with an outstanding bill of 3.4 million dollars to be settled.
In addition, the government spent 4.5 million dollars to sponsor the 1500 Ghanaian supporters that witnessed the event.
This clearly shows that, there was no value for money
2014 FIFA WORLD CUP
As usual, Ghanaians howled and cursed those irresponsible NDC led Government Officials who budgeted 20 million dollars for Blackstars 2014 world cup participation which the sheer collosal amount had corruption written all over it. In 2010 under Mills and John Mahama, they did same and those who stole money from Ghana like the former Minister of Sports, Afriyie Ankrah and Akua Densuah are still walking free with their loot.
In 2010 at the Brazil World Cup, the Mills And Mahama led spent $19.5 million on the World Cup and in 2014, they spent another 20 million dollars for the 2014 for the World Cup.
From the above analysis, it is unambiguous that, so far under President Akuffo Addo, the corruption menace at the GFA and Sports Ministry have been checked and thus value for money has been ensured.
It is unfortunate that the NDC has suddenly forgotten the mess they created in the sports sector.
We shall continue to remember them Incase they have short memories as John Mahama describes them.
Thanks.
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