Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has urged the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to “be bold” and attach a name to its unsigned statement responding to the reduction of the Black Stars’ budget.
The Member of Parliament, who has come under criticism for not disclosing budgets for international assignments since President John Mahama directed him to do so in February, defended his stance, stressing that he was “not hiding it.”
According to Adams, his ministry reviewed the estimates submitted by the GFA and cut down certain items, settling on $1.3 million instead of the proposed $2 million.
In response, the GFA said it had “taken careful note of statements made at the press briefing” and would provide clarifications in due course.
Questioning the unsigned release, Adams told Sporty FM: “The GFA’s statement has no name attached. Who wrote it? Is the person afraid to put his name there? Be bold. Who is the communications department? We speak to documents. Are the GFA saying they did not present estimates and that government did not slash their budget? If they respond, we’ll also respond accordingly.”
Meanwhile, the Black Stars have travelled to N’Djamena ahead of their September 4 fixture against Chad at the Stade Olympique Maréchal Idriss Déby Itno, before returning to host Mali at the Accra Sports Stadium on September 8.
Otto Addo’s men, four-time World Cup participants, currently top Group I with 15 points, three ahead of Comoros, who play Mali on Match Day 7. The team is expected to hold its final training session on Wednesday.
