Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif reveals Ghana spent $5.1 million at World Cup

The Minister in charge of Youth and Sports, Hon. Mustapha Ussif has accounted for how much Ghana spent at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Ghana’s Black Stars played at the World Cup in Qatar as one of the five African countries in the global tournament.

Speaking on the floor of parliament on Tuesday, December 20, Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif disclosed that Ghana spent $5.1 million.

According to him, having budgeted a whopping $8.1 million for the three group-stage matches, the Ministry of Sports managed to save the country $3 million.

“Our estimated budget at the group stage was $8.1million.

“Out of this estimated budget Mr. Speaker, our total expenditure for the group stage participation amounted to $5,171, 840.

“These expenditures covered appearance free, per diem, flight arrangements, medicals, equipment logistics, and hospitality,” Hon. Mustapha Ussif disclosed.

The Sports Minister further explained, “Mr. Speaker the reason for the surplus of $3 million after our exit from the group stage is the result of the ministry’s prudent management of resources as well as the ministry’s decision to negotiate on qualification bonus for the next round instead of paying winning bonuses per match.”

“What this means is that in spite of our black stars defeating South Korea in our second group match we did not pay any winning bonus for that game.”

Ghana at the 2022 FIFA World Cup was pitted in Group H. The Black Stars lost to Portugal and Uruguay while beating South Korea in between those two games.

Unfortunately, the three points amassed at the end of the group stage were not enough to send Ghana to the knockout stage of the World Cup.