No Per Diem For Fans – Minister

Soccer fans being sponsored by government to watch the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa would not be entitled to per diem, Deputy Youth and Sports Minister, Nii Nortey Duah has announced.

He however stated that three square meals a day, lodging, transportation to match venues and match tickets would be freely provided to the about 1,500 fans that would be enjoying the government largesse.

Hon. Nii Nortey Duah disclosed that government’s advance team tasked to ensure the successful provision of lodging and the other facilities to soccer fans left the country on Tuesday evening.

The Deputy Minister made the announcement yesterday afternoon when he briefed a section of soccer fans that are expected to make the trip, at the Ohene Djan stadium in Accra. He announced that soccer fans drawn from a myriad of organizations are making the trip to support the Black Stars, indicating that they “would leave in two batches, with the first and second batches leaving on Thursday and Friday evening respectively”. He disclosed that check-in time is 7.00am, while the time of departure is 7.00pm on the respective days.

Per conditions of the travel, he said the weight of luggage of each person should not exceed 30 kilograms, noting that soccer fans would be paired in rooms during their stay in South Africa, “so you should prepare for that arrangement and contribute to make things easier for us”.

He warned those that want to get rich overnight by smuggling illicit drugs like cocaine and Indian hemp to refrain from doing that since they would be severely dealt with by South African authorities when caught.

As part of measures to provide effective and adequate security for fans, Hon. Nortey Duah noted that personnel of National Security would be ferried to South Africa “and they would be protecting Ghana’s interest during the World Cup”.

On requirements for the trip, he said soccer fans are supposed to possess a passport with a valid South African visa and they should be inoculated against Yellow Fever and the H1N1 virus. The Deputy Minister advised travellers to be disciplined and control their libidos to avoid being infected with the HIV virus.

Hon. Nortey Duah implored fans to put up good behavior, respect laws and cultural systems of the host country and avoid provoking opposing fans and fomenting trouble.