The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) has denied sponsoring workers and their household to the 2014 world cup tournament in Brazil.

According to Corporate Affairs Manager, Eric Pwadura although some workers were sponsored to the ongoing tournament, their household were not part of the sponsorship.

“Only 40 staff members were sponsored to Brazil; the company did not sponsor workers and their household,” Mr. Pwadura told Citi FM Monday.

The Herald newspaper on Monday alleged that the company spent some multi million dollars on a 42 staff member and family sponsored trip to Brazil.

But Pwadura stated that even though some staff members were in Brazil with their families the GNPC did not bear the cost of their trip adding that only staff members traveled on the chartered flight with their families joining them later.

According to Mr. Pwadura the company chose to fly staff members on a chartered flight instead of a commercial one in order to save cost.

The trip to Brazil by the staff members he said, was meant to cheer on the Black Stars during their matches and also market the GNPC brand.

Mr. Pwadura also rejected claims that each staff member was paid 250 dollars a day as per diem allowance but refused to state how much each person was paid.

The GNPC is the state agency responsible for the exploration, licensing and distribution of petroleum related activities in Ghana.

The company which is also the headline sponsor of the Black Stars gave the Ghana Football Association (GFA) a 3 million dollar sponsorship package.

Mr. Pwadura debunked claims that even staff members, himself included, who were not able to travel to Brazil due to the Black Stars early exit from the world cup, were also paid 250 dollars.

“Those who did not travel were not paid any per diems. I was supposed to be there but did not because I had work [to do] and I was not paid”.

He stated that the World Cup gave the company an opportunity to promote its brand and gave it an international exposure.