Don’t treat Black Stars budget like nuclear codes – Okudzeto to Sports Ministry

The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has vehemently criticized the Youth and Sports Ministry’s decision to withhold the Black Stars’ tournament budget from the public.

During a parliamentary session on Wednesday, February 14, the sector minister, Mustapha Ussif, disclosed that a total budget of $8.5 million was earmarked for the 2023 AFCON tournament.

Reacting to the Sector Minister’s address, Mr. Ablakwa strongly condemned the Sports Ministry’s decision to withhold the Black Stars’ tournament budget from the public eye.

He said the 1992 Constitution and the Public Financial Management Act mandate Parliament to approve Black Stars budget for all tournaments.

“Mr. Speaker, going forward, this house must insist that the Black Stars budget for all tournaments must be approved by this house. That is what our constitution says, that is what our Public Financial Management Act says”

“You don’t treat the Black Stars’ budget like some nuclear code where journalists and parliament ask questions and are told they should wait till the tournament is over. This is not right”, he lamented.

Mr. Ablakwa also expressed strong disapproval of the Ministry’s decision to spend $3 million on the Black Stars despite their early elimination from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.

Reacting to this allocation, Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa vehemently criticized the decision, emphasizing the need for the country to get tangible value for its expenditure.

“Mr Speaker, the point must be made that the $3m that was spent on the three matches played, which the team performed abysmally is in excess of what other countries budgeted for the entire tournament.

“Nigeria budgeted $1.8m, Zambia budgeted $2.1m and these are open-source information and here we are. There is no value for money.”

Ghana’s disappointment at the 34th AFCON edition was palpable as they failed to progress beyond the group stage, finishing third with only two points out of a possible nine, dashing hopes of securing a fifth continental title.