Isaac Asiamah
Youth & Sports Minister Isaac Kwame Asiamah yesterday had a torrid time explaining the African Cup of Nations’ (AFCON) budget to Parliament.
Briefing Parliament, the Atwima Mponua Member of Parliament
(MP) stated that Ghana expended a staggering figure of $4.5million; the same
amount paid as prize money for the overall winner, Algeria, during the
competition hosted by Egypt.
The minister pointed out that the country
budgeted $6.3million for the tournament which Ghana exited from prematurely at
the 1/16th stage; its worst showing since 2006, also in Egypt.
And to the minister, the early exit, courtesy
less-fancied Tunisia, saved Ghana $1.7million.
But what has raised eyebrows among the sporting community is the fact that checks from the Egyptian Embassy in Accra suggest that Egypt is visa-free for Ghanaians, yet the minister quoted a colossal figure of $8,541.00 as visa fee.
The minister mentioned that the highest budget item was accommodation at $1.14million.
It has emerged that the long stay of many supporters ? whose return date was scheduled for days after the final (July 19) in Egypt after the team was booted out ? also contributed to the increased accommodation fee.
Ghana, with the sole purpose of returning home with the ultimate to
end the 37 years trophy drought, was booted out by Tunisia at the 1/16th
stage.
The minister confirmed that government sent
hundreds of supporters to Egypt to cheer the Black Stars on, a move which stoked
controversy as a result of the 2014 Brazil World Cup Justice Dzamefe
Commission, which frowns on flying of supporters.
Ghana drew two games against Benin in their opening game and Cameroon. However, it won its last group game against Guinea-Bissau to qualify for the 1/16th stage.
Algeria, the ultimate winners, took home $4.5m, while Senegal, losing finalists, received $2.5m. The semi-finalists pocketed $2m, with quarter finalists taking home $1m.
MPs’ Reaction
Yesterday, the MPs reacted differently after the minister’s presentation.
The NDC Minority gave an indication that it would be pushing for questions for the specifics of the expenditure from the minister.
A former Minister of Youth & Sports, Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, who is NDC MP for Odododiodioo, said the Minority has serious problems with the breakdown of the expenditure and wants further explanation from the minister.
The MP indicated that they were interested in details on the winning bonus for the players, technical staff and additional technical staff, as well as the amount spent on accommodation which was quoted by the minister as $1,143,519.
“I have been asked by my leadership to critically study the breakdown of the expenditure given to us by the minister to be able to raise the necessary questions,” he said.
Another former Minister of Youth & Sports under the NDC and MP for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, who has been charged by the Office of the Special Prosecutor, stated that it was time to consider how Black Stars players would be remunerated.
Majority Angle
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Akwapim South who was also a former Deputy Minister of Youth & Sports, O.B. Amoah, commended the minister for bringing the ‘real’ budget for the national team to Parliament to dispel the notion of the country spending excessively on the national team during the AFCON.
He maintained that the nation should find corporate bodies to help finance activities of the national team.
The NPP MP for Manhyia North, Collins Owusu Amankwa, also commended the minister for spending less than what was given to them and urged the government to resource the ministry well to be able to cater for the other sporting activities under the ministry.
Below are details of the budget
Airfare – $924, 168.00
Per Diem- Players- $187,050.00
Per Diem (Technical) $129,600.00
Per Diem (Additional Technical) $90,750.00
Winning Bonus (Players) $965,405.00
Winning Bonus (Tech) $347,027.00
Winning Bonus (Additional Tech.) $177,000.00
Accommodation $1,143,519.00
Feeding $419,300.00
Match Ticket $41,750.00
Medicals $44,574.00
Visa Fees $8,541.00
Internal Transport $43,092.00
Incidentals $42,576.00
Total $4,564,352.00
By Kofi Owusu Aduonum & Thomas Fosu