ACCRA, Ghana, March 18- Ghana’s cabinet has approved more than 24.6 million cedis (10.25 million US dollars/Sh886.625m) as the total budget for the senior national team, the Black Stars, to prepare and compete in the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil in June.
This was contained in a press release signed by Mahama Ayariga, minister for Information and Media Relations late Sunday night.
The Cabinet approved the release of 10.5 million cedis (some 4.37 million dollars) to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to finance the team’s participation in the first group stage of the World Cup.
A further amount of over 14.1 million cedis (5.87 million dollars) has also been budgeted to cover the team’s expenses when they qualify for subsequent stages of the competition, bringing the total government commitment to the Black Stars’ participation at the global event to over 24.6 million cedis or 10.5 million dollars.
“Cabinet has expressed great confidence in the Ghana Black Stars and its technical team and is satisfied with the preparations made so far towards Ghana’s participation in the World Cup in Brazil,” Ayariga said.
Ghana will be embarking on their third successive World Cup campaign, having successfully impressed in qualification. The Black Stars will begin camping from May 25 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Ghana has been drawn in Group G of the FIFA World Cup alongside the United States, Germany and Portugal.
The Black Stars will play their opening Group game at the Arena das Dunas in Natal against the USA.
