Minister for Youth and Sports, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, has given indication that the astronomical cost of sponsoring supporters to FIFA World Cup would compel the government to slash the number of supporters it would send to Brazil to support the Black Stars.
He said unlike the last tournament in South Africa three years ago when a lot of supporters benefitted from the government assistance to cheer the team, the government could not afford the huge cost involved in the trans-continental travel to Brazil and high cost of accommodation and internal transport during the tournament, hence the need to assist just a sizeable number of supporters to the World Cup.
The minister told the media on his return to Accra from the World Cup draw that the government would need the assistance of private corporate bodies to assist in sponsoring Ghanaians to support the national team at the World Cup.
�The reality is that Brazil is a far place from here. It involves a 27-hour journey and we [government] may not be able to carry so many people,� Mr Ankrah said, adding that his ministry would set up a committee which would oversee the organisation of supporters to Brazil.
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