Afriyie-Ankrah under pressure to detail Stars' ‘Presidential Ball’ cost

As the former Youth and Sports Minister, Mr. Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah broke down in tears at Justice Senyo Dzamefe's Commission on Thursday, many Ghanaians who called into the offices of The Informer are calling on the Commission to demand a thorough breakdown of the over Ghc188, 000 (¢188,665,000) spent on the Black Stars' dinner before going to the Brazil Word Cup.

The call, these concerned Ghanaians believe if heeded, will put the minds of the people of this country to rest as to what was eaten and drunk that night at the Banquet Hall of the State House in Accra.

Appearing before the Commission tasked by His Excellency John Dramani Mahama to investigate the Brazil 2014 World Cup shame, Mr. Afriyie-Ankrah revealed that a huge sum of Ghc188,665,00 (¢1.89billion old cedis) was expended on a dinner; or in other words the ‘Presidential Ball’ for the Black Stars before their departure to Brazil.

Testifying before the Commission, the former Sports Minister failed to provide details of the aforementioned figure; and this is what has triggered the call on the Commission to demand a total breakdown of the amount.

Apart from the huge amount spent for the Stars' dinner, Mr. Afriyie-Ankrah also gave a breakdown of monies expended on the various working groups with regards to the World Cup as follows:

Accommodation and Feeding – Ghc1, 953, 96.52; Printing and Souvenir – Ghc168,314.93; Media Relations – Ghc16,700; Advertisement – Ghc461,000; Website/App – Ghc22,857,000; Presidential Ball – Ghc188,665; World Cup Tickets – Ghc519,350; Medicals – Ghc5,258.37 while Ghc1,740 took care of Communication.

Supplementary outgoings according to the former Sports Minister included transport within Brazil – Ghc140,269,000; Entertainment – Ghc76,370,000 as well as Stationary and Consumables – Ghc14,947,000.

But for the rich experience of the Chair of the Commission, Justice Senyo Dzamefe, to control situation, Mr. Afriyie-Ankrah would have turned the sitting into a funeral ground, weeping as if the death of a close relative has been communicated to him whiles at the sitting when he was overtaken by emotions.

Well, Elvis Afriyie- Ankrah would have averted the situation in which he currently finds himself if he had listened to wise counsel, and also had called his brother, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah to order.