MoYS cuts Commonwealth Games budget to $1.2m

Information gathered by Finder Sports indicates that the Ministry of Youth and Sports has decided to cut down the $1.8 million budget released to the Ministry for the Commonwealth Games in Australia to $1.2 million

Even though the Sports Ministry received approval from the office of the Chief of Staff for the government of Ghana to spend $1.8 million, the Ministry is ensuring money is saved to undertake other equally important projects.

At the last Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the Ministry spent over $2 million on Team Ghana.

At this year’s tournament, Ghana will be represented by 72 athletes, 35 technical men, and 12 officials from the 12 participating disciplines at the games from April 4 to 15.

The team has arrived in Australia for their pre-camping ahead of the games next week.

According to our sources at the Sports Ministry, the Ministry ensured that the Ghanaian contingents in Australia are just officials of the Ghana Olympic Committee, the athletes, the Federation heads of the participating disciplines, medical team and some key government officials who are to ensure the coordination and welfare of Team Ghana at the Games. These are all measures taken to cut down cost.

“So if you compare this year’s budget to what was spent in Glasgow four years ago which was not too far, you will notice that this budget is far lower, Pius Enam Hadzidze told the media in an interview.

Meanwhile, the Sports Ministry is keen on ensuring that Team Ghana wins at least five medals at the Games.

Team Ghana moved earlier to Gold Coast to begin preparations and also acclimatized with the weather before the competition starts on April 4. Ghana have had the best of preparations heading into the Games.

The team is currently camping at the Ramada Hotel in Hope City, Queensland.