Presidential staffer, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has responded to accusations from Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, asserting that the MP is prone to exaggeration and overpoliticization of national matters.
Ablakwa, on Monday, January 29, 2023, disclosed details indicating that the government of Ghana, through the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ghana Football Association, allocated $8.5 million for Ghana’s participation in the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast.
In his reaction to the MP’s revelation, Miracles Aboagye accused Ablakwa of diverting attention from the broader issue of the Black Stars’ consistent failures.
He alleged that Ablakwa was exaggerating the team’s budget while overlooking the fact that previous governments had allocated similar amounts with less favorable outcomes for the team.
“Anytime we have to deal with a national issue nooor then he will come and spoil it with the Drama , exaggerations and partisanship.
“Was he not in there when his Government transported $3Million Dollars in Cash in an aeroplane to Black Stars Players in Brazil.
“Was it not in 2014 that Black Stars players were kissing Hard dollar currency in Brazil? We are all trying to work together to deal with a national issue, let him not distract the conversation with his unnecessary finger pointing,” he wrote.
The presidential staffer continued by pointing out that during a period of severe power outages in 2013, the Ghanaian government, then led by the National Democratic Congress, approved a budget of $15 million for the country’s participation in the AFCON.
“In 2013 when his government approved $15million Dollars for AFCON, we had Dumsor and all we needed was money to buy fuel. At the 2013 AFCON, the prize money was $1.5Million Dollars.
“He should leave us to deal with our football issues without splitting our heads. Check the trend of Expenses over the party 5 AFCONS,” he stated referring to an artwork accompanying his post.
Investigations by the media reveals that the speculated expense of US$15 million for the 2013 budget is, at best, unfounded. Our sources indicate that only US$8 million was both budgeted and subsequently disbursed.
Ghana’s performance in the 2023 AFCON was disappointing, with the country exiting the ongoing tournament during the group stage with only two points.
In the midst of controversy surrounding the team’s coach, Mr. Ablakwa made the expenditure revelation on Monday, accusing the government, FA, and the sports ministry of corruption and financial mismanagement.
Leading up to the tournament, the Ministry of Youth and Sports had refrained from disclosing the budget allocation for the Black Stars’ participation in the AFCON.