body-container-line-1

Former Sports Minister Insists He Left GHC40M Debt In Office And Not GHC51M

Football News Former Sports Minister Insists He Left GHC40M Debt In Office And Not GHC51M
MAR 20, 2018 LISTEN

Former Youth and Sports Minister, Nii Lante Vanderpuye has given the clearest indication that he left a debt of GHC40million debt and not GHC51million.

In Isaac Asiamah's recent meet the press encounter with the media, he made a shocking revelation that his administration inherited a debt of GHC51million from the previous government.

"I am sorry to report to you that we met a negative balance of GHC51m, which is the debt we inherited. There was nothing at the Ministry of Youth and Sports," said the minister.

But according to the Member of Parliament for the people of Odododiodio constituency, he inherited over GHC60million debt when he was appointed by former president John Dramani Mahama.

He, however, questioned why the Isaac Asiamah refused to explain how the debt was accrued indicating the blame cannot be solely placed on his doorsteps and that of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government.

The experienced politician explained that the debt was accumulated as a result of monies spent on sporting activities undertaken by the ministry by past governments indicating that majority of people who rendered services including hotel accommodation to the national team had not been paid since CAN 2008.

And speaking to Kumasi based Ultimate FM; the former GBC worker questioned Mr Asiamah on how he was able to finance Black Stars’ activities in 2017 before the budget was approved by Parliament.

“As at the time I was leaving the ministry, our debt at that time had come to about GHC40 something million, if it’s gone GHC51 million, it was a result of the matches which were played by the Black Stars, Black maidens, black Princesses and other activities that came up after I had left the ministry…They contributed to the debt, Asiamah cannot run away from it, where did he get the money from? So it’s part of the debts,”

He said he at least expected Mr Asiamah to accuse him of leaving the ministry in debt.

“First let me say this, it was highly…I don’t want to be harsh, so I’m going to be very, let me say, it was very unexpected of a Minister to come and stand there and just say that he inherited a debt of GHC51 million from the NDC/Mahama government, without telling Ghanaians what constitute the debt, what’s the profile of that debt, without telling Ghanaians that some of the debts were accrued as a result of non-payments of people who undertook certain activities for CAN 2018.

“When I was a Minister, the debt was over GHC60 million, that is the cedi component, and we had close to almost $12million component, because people who even supplied the scoreboards and the rest had not been paid, people who did work for the Essipong stadium had not been paid, the rest have not been paid, people who did work have not paid been, the debts were there,’ he explained.

Nii Lante further said Akufo-Addo’s government will continue to accumulate debt if the ministry doesn’t adopt new ways of handling sporting activities.

“…They will continue to accumulate debts if we don’t change the way we run sports,’ he said.

He recalled that the budget allocation to the ministry was being cut yearly.

“…As at the time I came to the Ministry, we were taking almost just GHC30 million as budget allocation which 50% goes into compensation,…Two to three Blackstars’ matches will take the rest of the budget allocation of the ministry, so what are you going to depend on to undertake other projects?, so lots of activities were taken on credit,’ he pointed out.

“Let me tell you point blank, by the time the teams which have gone for the Commonwealth games return, there will be debts, I’m telling you,” he added.

Samuel Ekow Amoasi Appiah
Samuel Ekow Amoasi Appiah

Sports JournalistPage: SamuelEkowAmoasiAppiah

body-container-line