Minister of Youth and Sports Hon Elvis Afriyie Ankrah has directed that the gate fees for the crucial World Cup qualifier in Kumasi on Tuesday 15th October 2013 be reduced. This follows a wave of appeals and lobbying by supporters, sections of the media and some football stake holders who felt that the price hikes were simply too high.

It would be recalled that the National Sports Authority (NSA) had proposed an increase of nearly 50% for all sectors of the Baba Yara Sports Stadium which was initially reviewed and approved by the Ministry of Youth and Sports. A key factor that drove the initial price hikes was the issue of combating ticket racketeering by unscrupulous and unauthorised ticket agents.

In the previous World Cup qualifier against Zambia in Kumasi, there were dozens of complaints from fans that tickets had been bought in bulk and were being sold on the black market at twice or three times the face value. Some fans went as far as to accuse the Sports Authority of colluding with the so called agents.

A charge vehemently denied by the NSA officials and their authorised partners.

However following a flood of protests by Kumasi fans in particular, who voiced their displeasure, at the high rates, the Sports Minister ordered a review to accommodate the popular feeling on the ground after which the new rates were approved. The Sports Minister has once again approved 5,000 tickets to be distributed among the various national supporters groups. The new approved rates for the October 15th duel are as follows:

GHS5 POPULAR

GHS10 CENTRE LINE

GHS30 VIP WINGS

Gh 50 cedis VIP CENTRE