Football set to take massive hit as budget for Sports Ministry is slashed by a staggering 42%
The financial challenges facing the various national teams is set to worsen following revelations that the annual budget for the Sports Ministry has been slashed by a staggering 42%.
According to findings made by the General Telegraph newspaper, the GHC36, 186, 217.00 allocated to the Sports Ministry in 2015 will experience a massive decline to around GHC 21m.
Finance Minister Seth Tekper is expected to confirm this findings when he presents the National Budget for 2016 to Parliament next month.
The massive cut in the Sports Ministry’s budget comes in the wake of lamentations over insufficient funds to run the activities of its various agencies.
Debts at the Sports Ministry keep compiling especially after Ghana’s involvement in major sporting competitions.
The Ministry which is now being headed by Dr. Mustapha Ahmed spent most of its total allocation when the Black Stars participated in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in January.
The Ministry was further stretch in Ghana’s participation at the just ended All Africa Games involving at least 16 sporting disciplines.
President John Mahama had to bailout the Sports Ministry when the Black Queens rebelled over unpaid bonuses after the All Africa Games where they won gold.
The further cut in budget allocation will pile more pressure on the Sports Ministry which is inundated with several financial commitment.
But the head of Public Relations of the Ministry Otor Plahar says innovative ways will be employed to make up for this deficit.
“Yes, the budget for the Sports Ministry has been cut and it will be around 21 million,” Plahar confirmed to the General Telegraph.
“The Minister will be engaging in some form of a stakeholders meeting to formulate strategies to make up for the shortfall.”
The massive cut in the budget allocation for the Sports Ministry will worsen the plight in managing the various football national teams.
All the national teams including the Black Stars are currently owed bonuses.
The Sports Ministry often have to fall on the Presidency for bailout in crisis situations similar to the stance taken by the Black Queens with their demand for payment of their overdue bonuses upon their return from the All Africa Games.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports remains one least financed sectors terms of budgetary allocations despite its immense potential to fetch the state significant foreign exchange while promoting good health, peace and unity.
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