Ghana's FA chief tells lawmakers the federation is cash-strapped and struggling under a 17.5% VAT charge on matchday tickets.
Ghana football's top boss has pulled back the curtain on the money troubles facing the national federation. GFA President Kurt Okraku told Parliament's Select Committee on Youth and Sports that the association sometimes cannot afford the fees needed to clear its imported equipment, a basic task for any football body.
Okraku was blunt about the situation, admitting the GFA does not always have the finances to cover some of its core operational costs. For a federation running the Black Stars pipeline, domestic leagues and youth programmes, that is a sobering confession.
He also took aim at the 17.5 per cent Value Added Tax applied at the gate on football matches. According to Okraku, the levy adds to the strain on administrators and makes it harder for clubs to earn from matchdays, which are a key revenue stream. He questioned why football is taxed at that rate while other entertainment providers appear to pay less.
The GFA chief said he has raised the issue with leadership repeatedly, not once or twice but probably more. His appearance before the committee puts the federation's funding gaps and tax concerns squarely in front of lawmakers, and the pressure is now on policymakers to decide whether Ghanaian football deserves relief.
