Ghana budgets $25m for AFCON 2021 & World Cup 2022 campaigns

The Government of Ghana has budgeted $25 million dollars for the Black Stars’ Africa Cup of Nations and FIFA World Cup campaigns next year, FMIG can confirm.

This was revealed by Ghana President, H. E Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo-Addo during a breakfast meeting with some stakeholders of Ghana Football at the Jubilee House on Monday.

While engaging the audience gathered, the president noted that it remained his priority to see Ghana back to the apex of football on the Continent and the global hence the need to well resource the Black Stars to adequately prepare for the tasks ahead.

He said, “soccer is a great passion of our people. Next year will witness two great competitions, one continental, the other global.

“The continental is the Africa Cup of Nations due to take place in Cameroon at the beginning next year. The Black Stars have qualified in grand style for the tournament and we are left with adequate preparations,” he continued.

“The global is the FIFA World Cup, the apex competition for global football scheduled for June of next year. The team has to play 8 world cup qualifying matches plus 2 international friendlies in Europe,” he noted.

According to President Akuffo-Addo, Ghana needs to win the AFCON tournament while also making the semi final stage of the FIFA World Cup.

Despite admitting the targets set presenting a daunting task to the team, he expressed optimism that they were not insurmountable hence his commitment towards ensuring targets set were achieved.

He revealed that government has donated an amount of $10 million to the project and also pleased with corporate Ghana to help raise the remaining $15 million to raise the budgeted amount of $25 million.

“The Ministry of Youth and Sports working with the Ghana Football Association need some $25 million to realize our objectives for these two major tournaments,” he revealed.

“Even before the onset of Covid-19, government would have fund it difficult to raise this amount by itself.

“Government however is committed to providing $10 million of this target amount. I’m aware that the pandemic has wreaked havoc on all aspects of our national life. Affecting revenues of government and many of you, but also resulting in increasing profits for others.

“We should be reminded of the fact that a successful Ghana in the world’s game brings credit to Ghanaians and Ghanaian businesses and opens up even more doors for Ghanaians and their businesses.

“Bringing back smiles on the faces of our people is priceless so I’m asking all of you to contribute to raising the balance of this amount which is $15 million,” he concluded.

The Sports Minister, Hon Mustapha Yusuf is leading an operational team to work on these two projects.

He will be supported by the Ghana Football Association President Kurt E. S. Okraku and former Ghana international, Samuel Osei Kuffour.