ACCRA, June 11 — Ghana will sponsor 500 fans to cheer national team Black Stars at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, Xinhua news agency reported. Minister of Youth and Sports Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah told journalists the supporters will be airlifted this weekend with the possibility of increasing their number as the tournament wore on.
“I can confirm 500 supporters today but there is a possibility the number will rise; I am confident we will be able to go beyond this number,” he said. The public has expressed concern over the state’s use of consolidated funds to transport thousands of fans to support national teams during major international events.
But the Ghanaian government said in March this year it would not utilise money from consolidated funds to sponsor fans to support the Black Stars. The Black Stars are currently fine-tuning in Miami, U.S. ahead of the World Cup which begins on June 12.
Ghana will play against the U.S. on June 16 before coming up against Germany and Portugal in a group known as the “Group of Death”.
-BERNAMA
