Fact Check: GFA Deny Receiving $800,000 From Ghana’s Finance Minister For Black Stars Friendlies In September

Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Okraku has shrugged off reports in the local media suggesting that the country’s football governing body received $800,000 from Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta for Black Stars’ international friendly matches in September.

The Black Stars played Brazil and Nicaragua in friendlies as part of preparations for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and the GFA is alleged to have received $800,000 to cover the team’s expenditure in both games.

This was reported by Kumasi-based sports journalist Collins Atta Poku, who sourced three Majority Members of Parliament, who are part of the 80, seeking the removal of Ken Ofori-Atta as Finance Minister.

“I have just come out of court to read that the Ministry of Finance gave the Ghana FA USD 800,000 to honour two friendly games against Brazil and Nicaragua. Fact check!!! This is false… Kindly ignore,” Okraku posted on his Facebook page.

I have just come out of court to read that the Ministry of Finance gave the Ghana FA USD 800,000 to honour two friendly games against Brazil and Nicaragua.

FACT check! This is false. Kindly ignore.

🇬🇭⚽️

— Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku (@kurtokraku) October 25, 2022

The GFA have also released a statement in support of their president’s denial of the reports as untrue.

Ghana lost 3-0 to Brazil and won 1-0 against Nicaragua thanks to a brilliant first-half strike by Fatawu Issahaku.

The Black Stars will wrap up their preparations for the mundial with a friendly against Switzerland on November 17.

Ghana has been housed in Group H of the World Cup alongside Portugal, South Korea and Uruguay