Alhaji Grusah responds to the Black Stars’ Afcon and World Cup expenditure of $25 million.
President Akufo-Addo has been praised by famous Ghanaian football administrator Alhaji Karim Grusah for his pledge to raise $25 million (over 140 million Ghana cedis) to finance the Black Stars’ Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup campaigns.
Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif suggested the number, which was agreed during a breakfast meeting at the Jubilee House on Monday.
He hopes the $25 million will enable the country capture the 2021 African Cup of Nations in Cameroon and enter the World Cup final four in Qatar.
Akufo-Addo declared that the government would contribute $10 million of the necessary funds, with the remaining $15 million to be raised by a five-member committee led by the Sports Minister.
There have been mixed responses, with Grusah – the owner of Ghana Premier League team King Faisal – strongly supporting the move.
He expressed his gratitude to the President for the box, saying, “I offer thanks to the President for this package.”
“However, the volume is not as large as Ghanaians believe.
“Before saying something more, Ghanaians can review the sum provided to the South African coach; all we have to do now is admire what the President has done.” He pleaded with her.
Alhaji Grusah also revealed that the money might be a government loan, similar to what the previous government of John Agyekum Kuffour did with the country’s football governing body.
“This is a government loan to GFA, similar to what President Kufuor did at the time; there is no suffering, beyond the fact that we are fighting Covid-19.”
Alhaji, whose squad is fighting for survival, went on to say that if Ghanaians think the expenditure is excessive, “we should avoid competing in the tournament.”
“Should we miss participating if we believe the $25 million is more?” he inquired. “Will FIFA punish us if we fail to participate?”
“It is past time we told ourselves the facts,” he concluded.
Ghana qualified for the Afcon last month, but World Cup qualifying will begin in June.
