Fishy deal at the GFA

Aftermath of the Ghana-Benin match Protests over GFA`s budget to gov`t
Though the Senior National soccer team, the Black Stars, last Sunday managed to beat their Benin counterparts by a lone goal in the World Cup qualifying match, the amount supposedly spent on their camping, lodging and payment of bonuses, has raised eyebrows within the football fraternity. The Chronicle gathered that though the sponsors made available $3.4 million to cover accommodation, lodging, bonuses, travels and other expenses, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) still sent a budget of $662,740 to the government, which was released to prepare the Stars for the match.

A budget statement from the GFA to the government, put the cost per night for hotel accommodation for each player, between $300 and $400, but checks by The Chronicle revealed that hotel room for the players cost $139 per night.

Sources, who spoke to this reporter, suspected a fishy deal at the GFA, since the money they collected from the government was far above the actual lodging fees paid by the football association.

Figures obtained by The Chronicle indicate that Goldfields Ghana Limited, head sponsors of the Black Stars, donated $1,300.000, Ghana Breweries Limited US$400,000, Globacom US$1,700.000, and CCTC GH¢5,000, to support the team for the Ghana-Benin Match.

These sponsorship packages were to take care of expenses involved in the match. Sources within both the GFA and Ministry of Youth and Sports, told this reporter that they suspected foul play because it is unthinkable that after all these sponsorship packages, the FA would still send such a huge bill to the government.

But, in a sharp rebuttal, Mr. Randy Abbey, Spokesperson for the GFA, denied that a budget of $662,740 was submitted to the government. He instead quoted US$543,460.00.

According to him, all the allegations and the agitations were borne out of ignorance and mischief. Explaining the functions and the activities of the GFA to this paper, he denied that the GFA carried cash to pay hotel, ticket fees and others.

According to him, all payments were made by the Accountant at the Ministry, saying, “The GFA does not pay any money. Every payment is made by the Ministry’s accountant. We don’t handle money, we only facilitate.”

Mr. Randy Abbey noted that Goldfields Ghana Limited only gave a sponsorship of US$120.000, and denied knowledge of any agreement package which covers accommodation fees.

According to him, the government was aware of all sponsorship packages, and that the GFA has not kept her in the dark.

He insisted that despite the sponsorships, government always paid part of the winning bonuses.

According to him, there was no iota of truth in allegations to rip off the government. “It is not as if government is in the dark. In fact, it is difficult to hide anything from the government. I can say that the allegations are borne out of ignorance,” he said.