The Ghana Football Association says it has put together a number of proposals to the government in relation to financial support for Ghanaian league clubs during the current climate of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Football has been hard hit by the pandemic since no league matches have been played since March 15 when the President announced a ban on public gatherings.
The absence of matches means that clubs cannot make any money without gate proceeds and transfer fees and thus, the GFA has reached out to Government through the Sports Ministry.
Henry Asante Twum is the GFA’s Communications Director and he gave details to Citi Sports on what the Ministry was expected to present to Government on the GFA’s behalf during a government cabinet meeting on Friday.
“In our proposal to the Sports Ministry, we highlighted the need for government support not only in the area of Covid-19 but we also asked government to take a look at the 17.5 percent VAT component on the gate fees charged at the match venues during the league.
We also made a case for import duties on football materials like national teams jerseys and related items. The jerseys do not come for profit. They serve a social purpose but we have to pay thousands of US dollars to clear them at the ports.
In line with that, we also asked for a look at what clubs pay to clear their jerseys and other equipment for use in the country. These charges are huge and draining and they are having a huge toll on our finances.”
Asante Twum went on to state that the GFA would also want government to review the situation involving lower tier non-professional clubs and their paying of Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) contributions on behalf of their -players.
“We would want the government to intervene in this situation. These clubs in Division Two and Three and the colts divisions are not professional clubs but SSNIT is always chasing them to play their due for their players and we would like the government to take another look at that.”
With the Ghana FA saying that a decision on the future of the Ghanaian football season will be taken by June 30, the expectation is that it will make a strong push for financial support to keep the clubs going until a proper resolution on the league is found.
