AFCON 2015: No money for Stars camping?
Ghana’s Black Stars will embark on their training tour of Spain on Sunday without funds from the Consolidated Fund as has been the norm.
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The Graphic Sports can authoritatively confirm that the team would be travelling without money from the government, following a directive to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to use the remaining World Cup money for the AFCON 2015 campaign.
According to Graphic Sports investigations, the latest decision followed a recent crucial meeting between the GFA and the Ministry of Youth and Sports when it was agreed that a contingency measure be employed to facilitate the trip to Spain.
Consequently, the GFA was advised to fall on the $3.1 million World Cup balance, while the government sought funds to reimburse the FA later on.
This was after the GFA’s AFCON budget presented to the Finance Ministry through the Ministry of Youth and Sports was temporarily shelved pending government approval.
The Brazil 2014 World Cup prize money stirred controversy a couple of months ago after the GFA defied a directive by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Ghana’s World Cup fiasco to return the entire $7.1million to the chest.
Instead of $8million, FIFA ended up transferring $7.1million into the FA’s account after deductions, out of which a Kwesi Nyantakyi –led GFA delegation presented a $4.1million cheque to the Sports Minister Mahama Ayariga as refund of the Star’s World Cup appearance fees.
Until the latest government call, the GFA had remained adamant by not paying the $3.1millon to the government despite pressure from all angles.
The Stars are expected to leave for Spain on Sunday to finalise preparations for the 2015 AFCON scheduled for Equatorial Guinea between January 17 and February 8.
Meanwhile, authorities of Ministry of Finance were unavailable for their comments.