President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Okraku has dismissed accusations suggesting that the government funds the FA.
Such claims frequently emerge during times of poor performance by the national teams, with critics alleging mismanagement of public money by the FA.
In recent times, the FA has faced scrutiny for allegedly exaggerating budget estimates for tournaments to benefit personally.
However, at a hearing before the Parliamentary Select Committee on Monday, Okraku emphasised that the GFA does not manage the finances associated with the national teams.
“For the record, the government of Ghana doesn’t give GFA any money. The Ministry of Youth and Sports funds national team-related activities. No money comes into the GFA’s coffers from the government,” Okraku said.
He explained that the Sports Ministry handles all financial aspects, including budgets and payments for tournaments and qualifiers. An accountant from the Ministry oversees these costs, with the GFA having no involvement.
“Monies used for national teams are paid to the Ministry of Youth and Sports. They make all statutory payments. No cedi comes to the FA,” Okraku added.
Okraku’s testimony before the Parliamentary Select Committee came in response to a petition from the Save Ghana Football group, which organized a protest after the Black Stars’ disappointing performance in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The group raised several issues, including demands for transparency regarding the funds allocated from the 2022 World Cup and the 2023 AFCON.
They also expressed concerns over the current funding strategy, claiming that an excessive amount of taxpayer money is directed towards the Black Stars, often neglecting other national teams.
The group proposed that the GFA collaborate with the National Sports Authority on financial planning, as the NSA holds legal responsibility for these matters.