President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Okraku, has clarified that he has no authority over the budget for the national team, the Black Stars.
During a Parliamentary Select Committee hearing on Monday, September 30, 2024, in response to a petition from the Save Ghana Football demonstrators, Okraku addressed concerns about the nation’s budget for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Ghana’s government allocated $8.5 million (approximately GH¢105 million) for the tournament, one of the largest in the country’s AFCON history.
Out of this amount, $3 million was spent during the Black Stars’ 11-day participation before being eliminated in the group stage.
Okraku emphasized that the GFA does not handle funds for national team campaigns.
“The FA doesn’t handle money for AFCON. The government of Ghana does not pay money into the FA’s accounts,” Okraku explained.
He added that the Ministry of Youth and Sports manages the funds, noting, “I have no questions to answer on budgeting because I don’t control budgeting.”