After the Black Stars' disappointing performance in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif disclosed that $3 million was spent on the team during the tournament.
Ghana's exit occurred following a third-place finish in a group alongside Cape Verde, Egypt, and Mozambique.
Despite a 2-1 defeat to Cape Verde and back-to-back 2-2 draws against Egypt and Mozambique, the Black Stars failed to progress to the Round of 16.
During a session in Parliament on Wednesday, the minister disclosed that the Ministry had budgeted approximately $8.5 million, with $5 million released by the Finance Ministry for the initial phase of the competition.
"Our estimated budget for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations tournament was $8,506,450.00 to cover the team’s pre-tournament and tournament phases," he stated.
"Out of this amount, $5,071,840.36 was released by the Ministry of Finance, of which $3,070,067.81 was allocated for per diems, flights, medical expenses, equipment, logistics, and hospitality."
"After our elimination from the tournament, we had a surplus of $2,001,772.55," he added.
He also noted the contribution of $400,000.00 from MTN Ghana, which significantly supplemented the government's expenses for the tournament.
"An amount of US$400,000.00 was received from MTN Ghana. This contributed immensely in complimenting Government’s expenditure towards the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.”
Additionally, Ussif refuted claims that each Black Stars player received $30,000 before the final Group B game against Mozambique as motivation.
This marks Ghana's second consecutive AFCON exit at the group stage without securing a victory, extending the nation's quest for its fifth AFCON title to 42 years.
Nsoatreman FC have advanced to the last eight of the 2023/24 MTN FA Cup after defeating Berekum Chelsea on penalty shootouts on Wednesday afternoon.
Asante Kotoko head coach Prosper Narteh Ogum has shouldered full responsibility for his team's elimination from the Ghana FA Cup competition following a disappointing 2-0 loss to Karela United in the Round of 16.
Despite a strong first-half performance from both sides at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium, neither team managed to score. However, Karela United surged ahead in the second half, securing their spot in the quarterfinals with goals from Solomon Aboagye in the 47th minute and Giyas in the 65th minute.
In response to the defeat, Ogum has accepted blame for his team's elimination and expressed regret for falling short of the fans' expectations.
“I take full responsibility for our exit from the FA Cup. The team's performance fell short of the high expectations of our loyal supporters and friends,” Ogum stated on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Despite the setback, Ogum remains determined and has vowed to bounce back, pledging to focus on the pursuit of the Ghana Premier League title.
“We are sorry for the disappointment. We are dedicated and committed to come back and fight for the Ghana Premier League,” he affirmed.
Abdul Fatawu Safiu has expressed his surprise over the sudden termination of his contract with Asante Kotoko, revealing that he was not informed beforehand.
Just three weeks after signing a two-year deal with the club, Safiu finds himself unexpectedly cut from the team, depriving him of the opportunity to showcase his talents on the field.
On February 5, Asante Kotoko released a statement announcing the termination of Safiu's contract, citing medical reasons for their decision.
However, the top scorer of the Normalization Committee’s special tournament in 2019 has refuted the news, stating that both parties have not come to an agreement regarding the contract termination.
“I don’t know anything about it because one party cannot terminate a contract. Two parties signed the contract so one cannot prepare a document and terminate it,” Fatawu told Ghanasportspage.com.
“I am still under contract with Asante Kotoko. That’s what I know. They just sent the news to me after publishing. I haven’t said yes or no.”
Asante Kotoko Technical Director, James Kwesi Appiah, has revealed that the club terminated Fatau Safiu’s contract due to an undisclosed ligament injury, which Safiu had concealed.
Speaking to GhanaSportspage.com, Appiah disclosed that Safiu had misled the club regarding his fitness status. Medical assessments later revealed that the injury required surgery, sidelining Safiu for up to a year.
Appiah emphasized, “If he had been honest with me that he has an injury and can’t play straight away, I would have let the coach know. So that we all will be aware. But you told us you can play and that you have no issues”
The discovery was made during training when team manager Ohene Brenya observed Safiu limping. Subsequent medical examinations confirmed a ligament tear in Safiu's knee, necessitating surgical intervention.
“So the boys returned from a two-week break, and he joined them to train. While they were training, Ohene Brenya (team manager) noticed that he was limping, so he was told to stop training.
“Normally, every player needs to do a medical checkup before signing. So we had to let him do his medical. After the first medicals, the doctors said he had a ligament tear in his knee. He was taken to another doctor who also said his ligament would need surgery.
“We sent the report to one Black Stars doctor who said his injury would require surgery and he would be fit after a year.
“That’s when we decided to terminate the contract because he didn’t tell us the truth.”
Safiu's contract was terminated just three weeks after his return to Asante Kotoko for a second stint.
Asante Kotoko had announced Safiu's signing on a two-year deal on January 15, marking his return since departing the club in 2019.
During his previous spell, Safiu impressed, scoring 13 goals in sixteen appearances and earning accolades such as best player and top scorer in the Normalization Committee’s special competition.
Ghanaian forward, Joseph Paintsil is on the verge of embarking on a new adventure in his career as he prepares to join Major League Soccer (MLS) outfit LA Galaxy in the United States.
Reports indicate that negotiations between LA Galaxy and Paintsil's current club, KRC Genk, are progressing well, with both parties edging closer to reaching an agreement in the coming days.
Sources reveal that the main point of contention revolves around the transfer fee for the talented winger, as KRC Genk values Paintsil at approximately 8 million euros.
Paintsil has been an integral part of KRC Genk's success in recent seasons, nearly guiding the team to Belgian Pro League glory last season. His impressive performances have continued this season, with six goals and four assists in 23 appearances in the Belgian top-flight league.
Should LA Galaxy and KRC Genk finalize the deal, the 25-year-old Ghanaian forward is expected to sign a lucrative four-year contract with the MLS side, marking an exciting new chapter in his football journey.
