The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has made a passionate appeal to chief executives of top companies in Ghana to assist the government in raising a total of US$25 million for the Black Stars.
This is to support the team as they prepare for the 2022 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the 2022 FIFA World Cup to be hosted by Qatar.
According to the president, even before the COVID-19 pandemic, government alone could not have raised the targeted US$25 million. He noted that government has committed to contribute US$10,000,000, which means that corporate Ghana must assist in raising the remaining US$15,000,000 to make the participation of the Black Stars for the two major upcoming tournaments in 2022 a smooth one.
Addressing a breakfast meeting with the CEOs at the Jubilee House on Monday, President Akufo-Addo indicated that Ghana is a football loving nation and the Black Stars is certainly the passion of the Ghanaian people. To that end, whatever support they need ought to be prioritised. He further noted that as the Black Stars work on ending their nearly 40 years winning drought, corporate Ghana must take advantage of same to project their businesses.
“The target is to bring the cup home by winning the Afcon in 2022. We have to go a step further than the second places recorded in 1992, 2010 and 2015 and bring the forty (40) years drought to an end. We must also reach at least, the semi-finals of the World Cup in Qatar. Our exploits in South Africa in 2010 where we reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup tells us that once properly prepared, we have the quality and talent to match any of the best teams in the world,” Akufo-Addo stated.
“I am aware that the pandemic has wreaked havoc on all aspects of our national life, affecting revenues of government, and many of you but also resulting in increase in profits for others. We should be reminded of the fact that a successful Ghana in the world’s game bring credit to all Ghanaians and Ghanaian businesses and opens up even more doors for Ghanaians and their businesses.”
Sports minister
The Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, noted that sports financing has become an important issue in every sports loving country such as Ghana. He noted that even though there has be a considerable increase in the budgetary allocation to the Sport Ministry by government, there is still the need to engineer alternatives financing models for the Sports ministry.
“It is eventually clear that there is linkage between corporate support to our national team and performance and as we seek to replicate these memorable performances in the past, we will surely require their [corporate Ghana] ones again” Mustapha Ussif said.
Strict financial regime
He further indicated that under his watch, he will ensure the judicious and prudent use of all contributions made by corporate Ghana to the cause of the Black Stars.
“The Ministry of Youth and Sports assures all of our commitment to strict and judicious use of financial resources which will be at the disposal of the Black Stars and other sports bodies from both public and private sources. Together with all stakeholders, we will put in place a strict mechanism to check wastage and ensure accountability” the Youth and Sports Minister said.
Wilberforce Asare
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