Ministry responds to World Cup cash claims

Published on: 24 November 2011

The Ministry of Sports have issued a statement in response to calls made by sections of the media to ascertain the whereabouts of monies received for Ghana's participation in the 2010 World Cup.

A little over $11m was payed to the Ghana FA by Fifa for the Black Stars' impressive run to the quarter finals but the monies was handed over to the state after insistent pressure.

However over a year after the mundial in South Africa, the Ghana FA is yet to take delivery of the cash for its activities after presumable expense deductions by the state, prompting the media inquiry.

The Ministry has thus issued a press statement to address the issue through its PRO, Akwasi Sarpong and is as follows:

2010 FIFA World Cup Prize Money

This Statement is been made in the response to a news item that was made by a Takoradi base FM Station, Melody FM and carried by the Ghana News Agency and Ghanasoccernet.com on the 20th November, 2011.This news item sort to malign the reputation of the minister of sport Hon. Clement Kofi Humado on the 2010 FIFA world cup prize money.

The question put to the minister by journalist of the Takoradi based radio station on the 11 million dollars was whether the ministry had received the said amount of 11 million U.S dollars from the Ghana football Association for a FIFA goal project. In response the minister indicated he was not aware of any such FIFA goal project money been kept by the ministry and went on further to assure the said journalist that he will find out if any such thing is in the ministry.

We wish to make it categorically clear that the ministry has never handled any money from FIFA goal Project. The FIFA goal project is purely an arrangement between FIFA and GFA. The ministry and by extension, government does not in any way come in. However, the prize money due Ghana for qualifying to the quarter final stage of the world cup tournament was received by the ministry through the GFA on the 6th of October, 2001 and subsequently lodged at the Bank of Ghana on the 7th of October as a result of discussions between the ministry of youth and sports and the GFA on one hand, the ministry of finance and economic planning and the controller and the accountant general on the other hand.

All correspondence to this effect can be verified at the ministry. It’s our hope that this explanation will clear all doubt with regards to the 2010 world cup prize money to Ghana. It should be clear to all that the 11 million, one hundred and 11thousand,666 us dollars,75 cent is a prize money for which Government of Ghana is entitled to and not an entitlement of Ghana football Association for the FIFA goal project as been banded all over the airwaves.

GHANAsoccernet.com however notes:

The caption in the statement's intro suggesting GHANAsoccernet.com contributed in an effort to malign the Honourable Minister Kofi Humado is palpably false.

GHANAsoccernet.com insists its story with quotes extracted from an interview between the honourable minister and Takoradi-based Melody FM is a true and fair reportage of the discussions that took place and there is a recorded voice to that effect.

It is therefore noted with much regrets the portions of the above statement which sought to unjustifiably whittle down the credibility of GHANAsoccernet.com and massage the full facts of an otherwise harmless publication.

 

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.
Learn more