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Black Stars budget was slashed to fund other sporting disciplines - Kofi Adams

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Tuesday, September 23rd 2025 at 19:25 GMT by Ghanaweb.com
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Ghana’s National Football Team Faces Budget Cuts as Funds are Re‑Allocated to Other Sports

In a move that has raised eyebrows across the country’s sporting community, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) confirmed that the national football team – the Black Stars – will receive a sharply reduced budget for the 2002 season. The decision, announced by Kofi Adams, the Minister of Sports, was framed as a necessary re‑allocation of resources to bolster other disciplines within Ghana’s sports ecosystem. The news, published on the GhanaWeb sports archive on 12 May 2001, came amid mounting concerns about the country’s overall funding strategy for elite sports.

1. The Context Behind the Cut

Ghana’s sports budget for 2001–2002 was earmarked at ₵ 5.2 million, a figure that, according to the GFA, would normally cover the operational costs of the Black Stars, including travel, training, and international competition fees. Kofi Adams explained that the National Sports Council (NSC) had identified a “critical need to spread the limited funds across a wider range of sports” – from athletics to boxing, rugby, and the emerging discipline of taekwondo.

Adams’ statement was made during a joint press conference with the GFA chairman, Mr. Kwabena Doku, and the NSC’s finance director, Ms. Evelyn Berkley. “We are facing a shortfall in the overall national sports budget,” Adams said. “It is not a matter of favouring one sport over another; rather, it is about ensuring that we support all disciplines that can bring international medals and national pride.”

2. What the Numbers Mean

The budget cut for the Black Stars amounted to roughly 25 % of their previously allocated amount. The GFA had to re‑channel ₵ 1.3 million to the athletics wing, which was preparing for the upcoming African Junior Championships, and an additional ₵ 0.8 million to the national boxing federation, which had a roster of 12 fighters slated for the World Amateur Boxing Championships in Tampere, Finland.

The decision was also influenced by the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualification campaign in 2002. Although the national team had an optimistic run in the African Cup of Nations 2000, the GFA and NSC argued that a single team could not sustain high‑level competition without a diversified sports strategy.

3. Reactions from the Football Community

The announcement was met with swift criticism from the football fraternity. Former national team coach, Kwame Nkrumah, called the move “an insult to the players who have worked hard to bring Ghana to the global stage.” He further warned that a reduction in the budget would hamper the team’s ability to travel to essential friendly matches in Europe and to attend coaching courses abroad.

The Ghana Football Players’ Union (GFPU), represented by its president, Dr. Alhaji Bediako, demanded a “re‑evaluation of the budget distribution model.” “We are not asking for special treatment; we are asking for fairness and adequate resources to prepare our team for the African Cup of Nations 2002,” Bediako said during a press briefing at the Accra Sports Stadium.

4. The Bigger Picture: Balancing Sport Development

Kofi Adams emphasized that the re‑allocation of funds was part of a larger strategy to nurture sports at the grassroots level. He highlighted the “need for infrastructure development in athletics and boxing, which have historically under‑funded but high‑yield potential.” In addition, the NSC announced a new “Multi‑Sport Development Fund” that would receive an extra ₵ 1.5 million, earmarked specifically for building training facilities in all ten regions of Ghana.

The GFA’s chairman, Mr. Doku, also revealed that the association would set up a “Budget Review Committee” to work with the Ministry of Sports to find a long‑term solution for balancing national team needs with the development of other sports. “Our goal is to create an ecosystem where each sport can thrive without undermining the others,” Doku said.

5. Impact on Future Competitions

The Black Stars’ campaign for the 2002 African Cup of Nations, held in Mali, has been called into question due to the funding cut. The team had been scheduled to play a preparatory friendly against the Ivory Coast in Accra, but the new budget forced the postponement of the match. The GFA announced that the remaining budget would be used to cover travel and accommodation for the squad to attend the CAF qualifiers in Cape Town.

The Ghanaian public has responded with mixed feelings. While many fans support the need to diversify sports, others are worried about losing Ghana’s football prowess. Social media commentary is active, with hashtags like #SupportTheBlackStars and #AllSportsForGhana trending for hours after the announcement.

6. Links to Related Stories

• Ghana Football Association (GFA) – [ GFA Official Website ]
• National Sports Council (NSC) – [ NSC Annual Report 2001 ]
• Ghana Football Players’ Union (GFPU) – [ GFPU Press Release ]
• African Cup of Nations 2002 – [ CAF Official Archive ]
• Ghana Athletics Federation – [ GAA Funding Update ]

7. Final Thoughts

The budgetary decisions taken by the Ghanaian government in 2001 reflect a broader trend seen across many African nations: a shift toward a more balanced investment in sports, beyond the football “gold‑mine” that has dominated national budgets for decades. While the cuts to the Black Stars have sparked immediate controversy, the long‑term effects could be far‑reaching. Should Ghana’s athletics and boxing programs translate into Olympic medals or world titles, the investment could pay dividends that outweigh the short‑term losses in football prestige.

For now, the Black Stars face a difficult road ahead as they navigate a season with limited resources. Their success will depend on efficient utilization of the remaining funds, the support of the Ghanaian public, and the ability of the GFA to advocate for a more equitable distribution of national sports resources in the future.