The Ministry of Youth and Sports has clarified the expenditure breakdown of Ghana’s participation at the South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup. A statement signed by Michael Akwasi Sarpong and copied to the GNA Sports said 19 million dollars was allocated for Ghana’s participation which was accrued from government and private sector contributions. This includes the Black Stars training tour in Europe, expenses on the teeming supporters who were sent to South Africa, payment of the team’s appearance fees and winning bonuses, up to the quarter final stage as well as the President’s special package to the team, among others. The statement was reacting to media reportage that the Minister, Clement Humado had presented contradictory account while addressing Parliament on Tuesday. “It is true that the Ministry presented two different statements of accounts to Parliament on the expenditure on the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The first statement of accounts was presented in November, 2010, by Akua Sena Dansua (MP), who was then the Minister of Youth and Sports whiles the second statement was by the current Minister of the Ministry, Clement Kofi Humado (MP) on June 19, 2012.” It said “the Accounts presented by Akua Sena Dansua (MP), was an interim accounts after she had been asked by Parliament a specific question as to how much money has been spent on the Ghana contingent to the 2010 FIFA World Cup. In her response, Dansua indicated that the government had as at the time of her response released US$8,062,389.10 only to the Ministry out of which US$7,195,182.40 had been spent on Ghana’s contingent which comprised of only the players, technical and management teams to the tournament. “This expenditure covers only expenses on the contingent up to the preliminary stage (group stage) of the 2010 World Cup, which includes per diem, appearance fees, winning bonuses, transport, among others.’ It reiterated that “the statements of accounts presented by Clement Kofi Humado to Parliament is the final account based on a different question asked by Simon Osei-Mensa (MP) about the “entire” expenditure breakdown of the US$19 million Government allocation and private sector contributions for Ghana’s participation in the 2010 FIFA World Cup competition in South Africa.” The communiqué said “Humado’s response to this question therefore covers a wider range, of the total expenditure on Ghana’s participation in the tournament. “It is therefore evident from the above that the two statements are not in any way contradictory nor are they factually inaccurate. The first statement is an interim account which was presented at the time the entire Account of the World Cup had not been completed, whereas the second statement presented by Humado encompassed the entire Ghana’s preparation, participation in the tournament.” Ghana was eliminated at the quarter-final stage of the tourney which the Black Stars made their second successive appearance.