{"id":224377,"date":"2016-06-22T06:00:52","date_gmt":"2016-06-22T06:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/?p=224377"},"modified":"2016-06-22T06:00:52","modified_gmt":"2016-06-22T06:00:52","slug":"spending-oil-money-on-black-stars-unwise-edward-mahama","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2016\/06\/spending-oil-money-on-black-stars-unwise-edward-mahama\/","title":{"rendered":"Spending oil money on Black Stars unwise – Edward Mahama"},"content":{"rendered":"
Flagbearer of the People\u2019s National Convention (PNC), Dr. Edward Mahama, has described the use of Ghana’s oil revenue\u00a0by the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) on the senior national team, the Black Stars, as unwise, saying \u00a0he will use Ghana’s oil revenue more judiciously should he be elected President.<\/p>\n
Responding to a question on the diversification of oil revenue at the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) Evening Encounter Series on Tuesday, Dr. Mahama noted that, he will focus the oil revenue on priority areas like capacity building and agriculture.<\/p>\n
He said his government would use some of the money \u201cfor capacity building which is already in the law, but the capacity building that we are doing is not where I think it should go; that is the 18 to 35 year olds.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of that money should even go into agriculture to encourage young people to go into it like I did at 27,\u201d Dr. Mahama added.<\/p>\n
He then took a swipe at the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation’s (GNPC) sponsorship of the Black Stars describing such uses of the oil revenue as unwise.<\/p>\n
According to him, \u201cWhen GNPC gives money for Black Stars, I really don\u2019t think it is a wise use of it because without that money, we would have another way of funding it. So yes, I think I will redirect that money.\u00a0So it is a matter of redirecting that chunk of money that is supposed to be used,\u201d the PNC flagbearer added.<\/p>\n
GNPC sponsorship of Black Stars<\/strong><\/p>\n The Black Stars landed a sponsorship deal from the GNPC as it became their headline sponsor with a reported $3 million pact over a five-year period.<\/p>\n The sponsorship period has seen regular financial packages from the corporation awarded to the Stars.<\/p>\n In 2015 for instance, the GNPC awarded each Black Star player US$25,000 for achieving a silver medal feat at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.<\/p>\n I\u2019ll be responsible if elected \u2013 Edward Mahama<\/strong><\/p>\n Dr. Mahama, who spoke on several issues ranging from education, health, economy unemployment and corruption among others, said the PNDC remains the best alternative to turn around the fortunes of the country.<\/p>\n