Mark Addo, the vice president of the Ghana Football Association, has provided insights into why the country allocated a substantial budget for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Facing criticism over the budget allocated by the Ghana Football Association and the Sports Ministry for the AFCON, Addo addressed concerns raised by North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who alleged that the Sports Ministry intended to spend $8.5 million at the tournament.
Speaking at a GFA press conference, Addo explained, “You build (budget) as if you’re going there to win the tournament. Everything is built on the assumption that after the qualification, round 16, last eight, semi-final, and final. We don’t want to be in a situation where we are in the middle of a competition and you called the Sports minister and say wait a minute we didn’t plan for this, so it’s better to be totally prepared. That’s how it’s done.”
Despite the substantial budget, Ghana failed to advance beyond the group stage of the tournament. The Black Stars suffered a 2-1 defeat to Cape Verde and managed back-to-back 2-2 draws against Egypt and Mozambique, leading to their elimination from the competition.
