The Communications Director of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Henry Asante-Twum has revealed that Ghana's 2022 World Cup prize dropped from $9 million to $7.9 million because the football governing body owed FIFA over $800,000.
The debt ranges from flight and accommodation of officials, Ghana U-17 and U-20 Women's national teams participation in FIFA tournaments, and cautions.
Mr Asante-Twum confirmed a JoySports publication which stated that the GFA declared $7.9 million to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and its members instead of the widely publicised $9 million.
Though the GFA is yet to respond to JoySports' email sent about two weeks ago, its Communications Director, Henry Asante Twum in an interview on Asempa FM said an outstanding debt of over $800,000 owed FIFA between 2016 and 2022 to led the reduction in the prize money.
"The GFA was entitled to $9m for placing between 17 and 32 in the FIFA World Cup [in Qatar], subject to the deduction of all outstanding debts on the account of the association at FIFA," Henry read a portion of a letter he said the FA wrote to the Sports Ministry on June 14, 2023.
He explained that every member association of FIFA has a specific account designated at FIFA for payment of money due it.
"...the association also received $25,000 credit relating to 2018. This was money FIFA owed the GFA as far back as 2018 and FIFA added it to our World Cup prize money for participating in the 2022 World Cup and this was fully contained in the letter we sent to the Minister.
"FIFA has deducted the outstanding debts in the sum of $800,131.23 from 2016 to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, including fees for cautions, flights, accommodation, charges.
"This leaves us with an amount of $8,224, 868.77. We wish you to remind of you the payment of $300,000 we took from the bank to pay the three Black Stars coaches on behalf of the Ministry for qualifying Ghana to the World Cup against Nigeria per their contract.
"So after all the deductions and what not, the net balance is $7,899,868.77 which is currently to our credit at the bank," he added.
Henry, however, did not clarify if the loan the FA took to pay the coaches as their performances bonus was deducted by FIFA or GFA deducted it and paid to the bank.
He concluded by saying that, the GFA will publish the details.
Credit: Muftawu Nabila Abdulai