Ghana spent a little over $3 million at the just-ended AFCON 2023 staged in Ivory Coast, Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif has revealed.
According to him, Ghana's participation cost the nation $3,070,067.81 out of the $5,071,840.36 released by the Finance Ministry for the first phase of the competition.
He stated that the Sports Ministry budgeted $8,506,450.00 for the entire tournament.
He made this known when he addressed Parliament on Wednesday, February 14, 2023.
The $5m released was meant to cater for "... per diems, flight arrangements for the team, medicals, equipment, logistics and hospitality," and the remaining $2m was not used by his office.
"Mr Speaker, our estimated budget for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations tournament was $8,506,450.00 to cater for the team’s pre-tournament and the Tournament Phases (group stages, 1/16 stage, quarter-final, semi-final and final)," he said.
"Out of the $8,506,450.00, $5,071,840.36 was released by the Ministry of Finance of which US$3,070,067.81 was spent on per diems, flight arrangements for the team, medicals, equipment, logistics and hospitality.
"This resulted in a surplus of $2,001,772.55, after our exit from the tournament," he explained.
Mr Ussif also stated the Sports Ministry raised about $400,000 to support government's efforts to give the team the best of preparations.
"An amount of US$400,000.00 was received from MTN Ghana. This contributed immensely in complimenting Government's expenditure towards the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations tournament."
Ghana exited the AFCON 2023 with two pions after drawing 2-2 with Egypt and Mozambique, respectively, and losing 1-2 to Cape Verde.