$US15 million spent on 2010 World Cup - Minister

Accra, July 30, GNA - The 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 government to witness the event.


Out of the approximate 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.


Addressing a press a conference in Accra on Thursday, Akua Sena Dansua Minister of Youth and Sports said her outfit made a budgetary allocation of GHC 18.3 million for the team but only 9.664.95 million dollars was released.


She said her outfit was waiting for an approval from the government for the settlement of the outstanding bills with regards to appearance fees for the team at the 1/16th and 1/8th stages of the competition.


The minister indicated that although her outfit also budgeted 4.5 million dollars for the sponsorship of Ghanaian supporters to South Africa, the money was not released by the government.

She said the planning committee had to rely on loans for the sponsorship of the fans to South Africa and is awaiting the release of the funds for the repayment of the loans.


Touching on the decision to send supporters to South Africa for the World Cup, Sena Dansua defended the decision of the government adding that "it was not a waste of resources".


She said though the direct benefits might not come with immediate effects, the nation stands to gain immensely as well as benefit in the near future, due to the exposure the nation had at the competition.


The minister added that, supporters who went to the event also had the opportunity of studying the positive aspect of the South Africa culture which will have an impact on Ghana in the near future.


She however conceded that there were some hiccups in the organisation of the event, "but they were blown out of proportion", she added.