Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has brought to light a significant oversight in parliamentary procedure concerning Ghana’s participation in the AFCON tournament in Ivory Coast.
In a surprising turn of events, it has been revealed that the $8.5 million budget for the event did not receive approval from the house before the national team’s involvement. This revelation comes in the wake of Ghana’s disappointing exit from the AFCON, failing to advance beyond the group stage for the second consecutive time.
According to Mr. Ablakwa, both the Sports Ministry and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) neglected their obligation to appear before parliament to defend the budget, as is mandated by law. Their failure to do so has raised suspicions among members of parliament, with Mr. Ablakwa highlighting the unusual behavior of the Sports Ministry and the GFA.
It is concerning that their reluctance to present the budget and their excuses were deemed as flimsy. Efforts to elicit information on the allocated funds for AFCON were also met with resistance. This lack of transparency and adherence to parliamentary procedure is troubling, and it is essential that accountability is upheld in all matters concerning public funds and national representation in international tournaments.
