Approved Black Stars budget not a loan – Ayariga

Information Minister Mahama Ayariga says the approved $9.8m for the Black Stars’ campaign at the 2014 World Cup is a grant and not a loan.

This means the government will not be demanding the return of these funds when FIFA awards Ghana its share of the price money for the 2014 World Cup.

The Ghana FA was made to pay the over $11m realized after Ghana’s quarter final finish at the last World Cup in South Africa back into government’s chest.

The government claimed it only pre-financed Ghana’s campaign at the tournament and therefore was entitled to collect the returns made since it is the main financier of all the national teams.

The state approved about $19m for the last World Cup in South Africa.

And though all the approved allocation was not exhausted, the Ghana FA were made to return the financial gains made after the tournament four years ago.

This fuelled the expectation that a similar directive will be issued to the Ghana FA when it receives its gains from FIFA after the upcoming World Cup in Brazil – following another approved budget for the Black Stars’ campaign.

But government spokesman Mahama Ayariga says the state does not expect any refund for the approved World Cup budget.

“This is not an amount that we will be taking back,” Ayariga told Metro FM. “It is government money that we are giving to the team and not a loan.”

Ghana is making its third appearance at the World Cup this term in Brazil.

The Black Stars are drawn in Group G where they will face USA, Germany and Portugal.