Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, has revealed that both the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the government allocated $8.5 million (GHS105 million) for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.
The Black Stars entered the 34th edition of AFCON in Ivory Coast with aspirations to end a 42-year trophy drought. However, the team faced disappointment, exiting at the group phase with only two points from three games.
Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif had been criticized for not disclosing the budget for the team before the tournament. In contrast, Ablakwa, in a recent post, clarified that both the GFA and the government had mutually agreed on the earmarked amount for the AFCON campaign.
He specified that the disclosed $8.5 million is separate from the $1.5 million spent on the 2023 AFCON qualifiers.
Following the team’s elimination, Chris Hughton was relieved of his duties, and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) formed a five-member committee to recommend a new coach to the Executive Council. The deadline for submitting applications for the vacant coaching role has been set for February 2.