Communications Director of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Henry Asante Twum has shockingly revealed that the $500,000 stimulus package that is yet to be received from FIFA is meant for operational cost and not for clubs.
FIFA as part of its measures to help combat the effect of the coronavirus on football will distribute $150 million among its 211 member associations according to a statement released by the world football governing body.
Concretely, this means that FIFA will release USD 500,000 to each member association in the coming days as well as any remaining entitlement for 2019 and 2020.
Football in Ghana has remained suspended since March 16, 2020, with clubs struggling to pay staff and players due to the outbreak of the virus.
The situation has forced the clubs to call on the FA to come to their aid with financial support.
However, the FA for the past month has been trying to get a stimulus package from the Covid-19 Trust Fund set up by governement.
With the $500,000 yet to be received by the GFA, Mr Asante Twum says the money is meant for operational cost at the FA and not for the clubs.
“The Ghana Football Association is yet to receive the $500,000 from FIFA,” he told Asempa FM.
“FIFA said they will release operational funding, taking into account the difficulties member Associations have gone through in the aftermath of the Coronavirus pandemic and decided to release the 2019/2020 funds for the operational cost of $500,000.
“The FA updates its members on operational cost yearly which includes staff Salaries, operations of the FA, maintenance of the FA, an amount that goes into communication, publicity, Ghanama Soccer centre of excellence, its a broad area.
“The money will be used to cover operational costs at the Football Association and I can state categorically that the money FIFA is bringing is not for clubs.
“But if the Association in it’s power decides to use some the money to support clubs then fine but ordinarily, the money is meant for the Football Association,” he added.
By Samuel Ekow Amoasi Appiah
