Keen on bringing changes in sports administration, Nii Lante Vanderpuye says there will be no more free gate during Black Star games.
“Even if there is a Black stars match, President himself will buy a ticket… I myself will buy a ticket” he vowed after barely four months into his appointment.
To boost fan turn-out, entrance to watch important football matches are sometimes free. The move was intended to repair lost love between the Black Stars and the fans following a disappointing show at the 2014 World Cup.
But the ministry is cash-trapped and indebted to caterers, travel and tour companies, hotels and service providers. It is indebted to the tune of ¢16million and has a budget of ¢22million.
The minister indicated that the days of free football are over.
“Why should anyone go to Accra Sports stadium and watch a Black Stars match for free?” he asked Joy News’ Francis Abban during an interview on MultiTV'sPulse Wednesday.
He said it is the responsibility of every Ghanaian to contribute to the development of the game by paying to enter the stadium.
A Black Stars’ game can cost as little as ¢2 to watch – less than a dollar.
The minister said he will push for approval of the President to also cancel the giving out of complimentary tickets. Free patronage, he observed, is killing Ghana sports because it robs teams of much-needed revenue.
“If all Hearts of Oak supporters will go to the stadium and pay, Hearts of Oak will get better. “If all Hearts of Oak supporters will go to the field and pay, Kotoko will get the money and pay their players well”.
Despite a multi-million dollar prospects, sports in Ghana is plagued by funding challenges and revenue losses.
The minister observed that revenue leakages accounted for only ¢68,000 realised after an international game despite a nearly full 40,000-seater Kumasi Sports stadium.
He said after putting in some measures, the Sports Ministry made ¢160,000 in another Black Stars’ game in a 40, 000-seater Accra sports stadium.
Vowing to crash resistance, Nii Lante said “if anybody tries to stand in my way against sanitising revenue generation at the gate for Black Stars matches, that person will be in a hell of a fight”
“When I know I am on the right path, I don’t care because it is not about me, it is about Ghana” the Sport minister said.
Comments
Post a Comment