The Ghana Football Association (GFA) says it has no objections to the government’s $1.2m allocation for the Black Stars’ final two World Cup qualifying fixtures this month.
Sports Minister Kofi Adams confirmed the breakdown last week, with $733,000 set aside for the away tie against the Central African Republic (CAR) in Morocco on 8 October, and $387,000 earmarked for the home game against Comoros in Accra four days later.
GFA Communications Director Henry Asante Twum told Arena on Woezor TV that the Association’s proposed figures were based on past experiences and logistical demands, especially as venue changes affect costs.
“The budget the Ghana Football Association (GFA) sent to the Sports Ministry are the actuals. Everything we presented to the Ministry are estimates or projections, and that is based on experience, based on games that we play. Let us not forget that there are inconsistencies in terms of figures because we do not play at one venue,” Asante Twum said.
He pointed to recent international windows as examples of fluctuating costs, noting; “During the September internal window, we played in Chad for the away game, and then we came back to Ghana to play against Mali. This time around, we are going to Morocco, so the expenses made against Chad will not be the same for the game against Central African Republic in Morocco in terms of feeding, hotel, internal rounds, cost of training facility and other things.”
While critics have sometimes questioned the scale of expenditure on national team assignments, Asante Twum underlined that the Association works within the framework provided by the Ministry.
“Once we make those projections on empirical evidence, research, facts and historical antecedents, it is always up to the Sports Ministry to take the final decision so we don't have any reservations, or whatsoever. We presented a budget estimate, and the Sports Ministry have come up with the actuals, and we have to move forward from there,” he added.
The Black Stars will play CAR at the Stade d'Honneur de Meknes at 16:00 GMT on 8 October before hosting Comoros at the Accra Sports Stadium on 12 October at 19:00 GMT.
By: Pascal Amoah
