Brazil 2014: We planned $10 per diem for fans
Evidence at the World Cup Commission of Inquiry has shown that fans who supported the Black Stars in Brazil were supposed to be paid $10 each day as per diem but they did not receive it.
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According to the evidence, feeding monies meant for the supporters was taxed $10.
Last week two caterers for the supporters in Brazil, Ambar Quality Foods Limited and Kenkey Boutique Catering Services, testified that $45 dollars was budgeted for each of the 612 fans in Brazil.
Out of the amount, the caterers were allocated $35 to prepare two meals each day.
The remaining $10 was for the fans as pocket money.
Testifying before the Presidential commission probing Ghana's participation in the 2014 Brazil World Cup on Monday morning, the Camp Commandant, Mr Frederick Agbesi Nutsu confirmed that it had been planned for the supporters to be paid $10 each day but they did not get it.
According to him, the rationale for the proposal was that after breakfast each day, supporters went to town, and to make it possible for them not to rush back to camp for lunch, the $10 was to be given to them.
Justice Senyo Dzamefe, Chairman of the Commision asked: Were supporters given per diem?
Nutsu: My Lord, no.
Justice Dzamefe: Because there is evidence here that money meant for feeding was taxed so that $10 will be given to supporters as per diem. We don’t know, you were there, is it true?
Nutsu: My Lord that was an initial proposal, but my Lord the difference here was that in South Africa, where the Camp Commandant have [sic] some money on him, that when people are in need, I just give something small out, in Brazil 2014, money to me per se was really the problem.
Justice Dzamefe: What do you mean by that?
Nutsu: If there were money, we proposed that after taking breakfast, and they being in town or where ever they (supporters) might be, why not convert lunch into money so that they will not be in a haste to leave whatever they are doing to come and eat or take their lunch. But My Lord I was told by the then Minister of Youth and Sports (Elvis Afriyie Ankrah) that, there was no money. That really was the reality on the ground.
Dzamefe: But did he tell you there was money for feeding the supporters?
Nutsu: My Lord, feeding the supporters so far as I was concerned, as the Commandant, there was more to eat but how we got the food, my Lord I have no idea.
Listen to Agbesi Nutsu's testimony at the commission Monday morning
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