The Ministry of Youth and Sports has reportedly spent a staggering $1.5 million on Ghana’s qualifying campaign for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023.
This disclosure, made by (Member of Parliament of North Tongu) Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, was uncovered in official documents and sheds light on the substantial financial cost incurred during the Black Stars’ journey to the tournament that ended in a 2-point fiasco.
According to Ablakwa, the breakdown of expenses reveals that the matches against Angola accrued a cost of GHc7,452,437.71, while clashes with Madagascar were accompanied by an expenditure of GHc8,395,434.13.
Additionally, the Sports Ministry allocated a significant amount, GHS3,414,894.51, for the qualifying matches against the Central African Republic.
Despite securing a spot in the AFCON 2023 tournament, the Black Stars delivered a lackluster performance in the Ivory Coast, exiting at the group stages on January 22. The disappointing outcome prompted swift action from the authorities, leading to the sacking of coach Chris Hughton.
Chris Hughton, who assumed the coaching role in February 2023 as a replacement for Otto Addo, faced a challenging tenure marked by a string of unfavorable results.
Over the past 11 months, Ghana managed to secure victory in only four out of 13 matches under Hughton’s leadership. The team’s struggles extended to their last five matches, including a notable loss to Comoros in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
In response to the underwhelming performance, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) took decisive action by not only terminating Hughton’s contract but also announcing the dissolution of the national team’s technical staff.
This move signifies a strategic reevaluation and restructuring in the hopes of revitalizing the Black Stars for future competitions.
The revelation of the substantial qualification cost to the state in the AFCON 2023 qualifiers has sparked controversy and raised questions about accountability within the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
