The Ghana Football Association (GFA’s) alleged submission of a provisional budget of $20 million for Brazil 2014, has been described as outrageous in many quarters.
Some Ghanaians have also chastised the Black Stars playing body for requesting $100, 000 each, as appearance fee and those at the forefront of these criticisms are the sports Journalists.
However, they (Sports Journalists) have also come under fire accused of being envious of the players and have even been taken them to the cleaners.
But Mr. Takyi Arhin, a Sports Administrator, known in football circles as ‘Thunder’ has jumped to the defence of the media personnel.
Speaking on NEAT 100.9 FM, he said the condemnation by some Sports Journalists is justified because “they are talking as Ghanaians and as shareholders of the Black Stars”.
“…everyone, including the Sports Journalists are tax payers. If we all tax payers then we cannot watch in silence whiles others use our monies anyhow”.
He was of the view that the GFA and the Black Stars should have been a little bit sensitive to the plight of Ghanaians because of the hardship in the country and the current state of the economy.
“…teachers have been on strike recently. Electricity and water bills have been increased. If we were not that vigilant in 2006 and 2010 (regarding the budget for the World Cup), this year we will be extra vigilant because in 2010, $50,000 was said to have been budgeted for the media. Did the media receive the money? So where is the money?” he demanded.
Mr. Takyi Arhin also stated that the allocation for what is described as ‘protocol’ must be scrapped because monies spent on visiting shrines and seeking spiritual prayers, which Ghana spent nearly $100,000 on, in 2010 could not be accounted for.
“…thirdly, our laundry alone in South Africa, they told us it was about $30,000. Won’t we have some change even if we bought about a thousand washing machines?” He quizzed.
He also questioned why the GFA has blatantly refused to set up a Public Interest Committee (PIC), which supposed to be the liaison between the GFA and the Sports Ministry, on the matters such as the budget for tournaments, therefore creating an avenue for the A to deal directly with government on issues of finance.