Fentuo Tahiru Fentuo, editor at JoySports, has criticized the Sports Ministry and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for allegedly benefiting from the recent ban imposed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Ghana’s Baba Yara Stadium.
In a recent statement, Fentuo claimed, “Believe it or not, there are some people very happy that CAF has banned Ghana because they will be profiting big time from this. Mostly the people at the Sports Ministry and the GFA.”
Fentuo outlined several ways in which he believes these individuals might profit:
1. Increased Per Diems: Payments for travel expenses are expected to be made in dollars.
2. Inflated Costs: There may be inflated costs associated with hotels and other travel-related expenses.
3. Training Facilities: Costs for camping and training facilities could be inflated, as the team will need to train abroad.
4. Supporters’ Travel: Taxpayers’ money could be wasted on transporting supporters, providing a financial incentive for those arranging these trips.
“Jack, I guarantee you some people are innately happy about this decision because of insatiable greed,” he tweeted on X.
JoySports editor @Fentuo_ slams Ghana’s sports leadership after CAF’s ban on Baba Yara Sports Stadium.#JoySports pic.twitter.com/hE1oylEREl
— #JoySports (@JoySportsGH) September 11, 2024
The controversy surrounding the ban on Kumasi’s Baba Yara Stadium has intensified.
Senior sports journalist ‘Prof’ E. K. Wallace from Asempa FM has called on the GFA to release the official letter from CAF detailing the reasons behind the ban.
Reports indicate that CAF has banned the stadium, Ghana’s only venue certified for international matches, due to issues including an uneven playing surface, inadequate drainage, and poor grass cover. CAF has instructed Ghana to find an alternative venue for its 2025 AFCON qualifiers.
On his SportsNite show, Wallace stressed the need for transparency and urged the GFA to provide the official CAF correspondence to clarify the situation and address public concerns about the handling of the matter.
The GFA has yet to respond to Wallace’s challenge, and the issue continues to spark debate among football fans and analysts.