Sports News of Wednesday, 3 December 2014

Source: Daily Guide

Who is deceiving who;…over World Cup cash?

The Presidential Commission inquiring into Ghana’s shambolic performance in the 2014 World Cup has ended its public sitting, yet the issue regarding the prize money lingers on.

The question crying for a definite answer is: who is keeping or better still, where is the remainder of the $9million appearance fee from FIFA.

Former sports chief Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah told the Justice Senyo Dzamefe-led Commission that he left behind a colossal amount of $4,444,053.59 from the World Cup cash.

A few days ago, Youth and Sports Minister Mahama Ayariga was in Parliament to explain the Brazil 2014 World Cup expenditure.

Indications are that the Sports Chief failed to state the exact account accommodating the remainder of the money, which the former minister stated he bequeathed to the office.

The perception out there, however, suggests that the country’s football governing body, Ghana Football Association (GFA) is keeping the remainder of the pre-finance booty close to its chest.

Barely a month ago, the GFA refunded the $4million loaned to it by government (Ministry of Finance) which stoked controversy among politicians, as well as those in football circles.

But DAILY GUIDE SPORTS has gathered that the remaining cash is sitting in an undisclosed account.

Meanwhile, the PR department of the Youth and Sports Ministry has denied the fact that the remaining booty is lying in an undisclosed account.

It stated clearly that “it is not true. Government pre-financed the tournament, $4million was allocated for the Group stages and the remaining as they progress, but since they exited at the Group stage, the remaining money was returned to government chest.

“In fact, the Ministry went into that account to defray the outstanding Black Queens bonuses,” it added.