Mustapha Ussif, Minister of Youth and Sports, has appealed to corporate Ghana for assistance ahead of the country’s participation in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Last weekend, Ghanaians living in Qatar took to the streets to announce their presence in the country ahead of the World Cup.
The Member of Parliament for Yagba-Kubori announced on Tuesday morning, during the presentation of the Goldfields Ghana $300,000 sponsorship for the Black Stars, that the government had chosen against supporting supporters to the tournament due to the current economic challenges.
During his speech, the sports minister, Mustapha Ussif, said the government will not be able to sponsor supporters to Qatar this time around, as the government-sponsored supporters to Brazil the last time Ghana played at the World Cup.
The honourable minister Ussif stated, “Ladies and gentlemen, the government has decided it won’t be supporting supporters’ trips to the World Cup in light of the current scenario our country finds itself in. As previously stated, Kenpong Travel & Tours, the official travel company designated by the Ministry, is the place where interested Ghanaians who wish to attend the World Cup in Qatar can book their flights.”
The sector minister stressed the significance of corporate Ghana helping to mobilize fans to support the Black Stars at the tournament despite the decision not to deploy supporters to Qatar with state finances.
Mustapha Ussif made an appeal to businesses in Ghana to assist the ministry by sponsoring a few Black Stars supporters’ flights to Qatar.
“The Ministry of Youth and Sports will, however, continue to appeal to corporate Ghana and the private sector to sponsor and pay selected Ghanaian supporters to show symbolic support for the Black Stars,” Honourable Ussif appealed.
At the event, the minister shared an option devised by the ministry and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for rallying supporters to support the Black Stars in Qatar.
He disclosed, “As an alternative measure, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, in collaboration with the Ghanaian Mission in Qatar, will mobilize Ghanaians and other Africans based in Qatar to provide support for the Black Stars.”
The minister urged Ghanaians to offer their full support to the team so they could perform well in the competition.
“Irrespective of the challenges, wherever we are and everywhere we go, let us rally behind the Black Stars in this World Cup campaign, Qatar 2022, and give them our unflinching support to make another worthwhile history in their World Cup journey,” the Honourable minister added.
