In January this year, the Ministry of Youth and Sports put it out that the cost of sending one supporter to the Brazil 2014 World Cup will be Ghc27,000.
Unbelievably, after five (5) months, this figure has been reduced to Ghc18,000 ($6,000) per person.
The Ghanaian Times report on Friday, January 24, 2014 (page 31 to be precise) quoted Mr. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah as saying “averagely, a round trip to Brazil, which takes care of a return ticket, accommodation, feeding and tickets for the various matches will cost Ghc27,000 or $12,000. This is not inclusive of internal transportation and other miscellaneous expenses”.
At a press conference on June 9, 2014 to confirm that the ministry will be sending 500 supporters to Brazil to cheer the Stars up; $6,000 (Ghc18,000) according to the sports minister, will be the total cost of sending one supporter.
The said figure, according to the minister’s explanation, will cater for airfare, accommodation, feeding, and ground transportation.
He hinted also that, each supporter will be entitled to two square meals a day which will last up to the group stage.
On January 24, 2014, The Ghanaian Times quoted Mr. Kwesi Pratt as asking government not to sponsor fans to the Brazil 2014 World Cup, saying, it was of no benefit to Ghana.
However, with the new figure put out by the sports minister, many analysts have been wondering how with the increasing value of the dollar, the cost involved in sending one supporter to Brazil has now been reduced as much as Ghc9,000 (i.e.- Ghc27,000- Ghc18,000).
With the analysis above; The Informer is humbly asking the President to sit up and sit up well, before the Brazil 2014 World Cup also becomes another headache for his government just like SADA and GYEEDA.
