Ghana get cash boost

The Goldfields company have offered US$3 million over the next three years to sponsor the Black Stars Sports Minister Dr Osafo Maafo

Ghana's national team have signed a sponsorship deal worth US$3 million over the next three years.

The Ghana Minister of Sport, Dr Osafo Maafo, told BBC Sport that the deal has been signed with mining company Goldfields.

"The Goldfields company have offered us US$3 million over the next three years to sponsor the Black Stars," Maafo said.

"This kind of money will take care of the coaches salary, kits for the team and other incidental expenses.

"Naturally this kind of money will make things easier for us to plan and hold proper training camps."

Recently, coach Ratomir Dujkovic threatened to quit when his wages were not paid.

The minister also explained that he had held talks with Doctor Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, the chairman of the Ghana Football Association (GFA).

Maafo said that the meeting was aimed at sorting out the ongoing problems within Ghana's football administration.

Earlier this year, the GFA congress passed a vote of no confidence in their chairman by 72 votes to two.

He also has an ongoing court battle with the GFA executive council, who want him to step down but Nyaho-Tamakloe says they do not have the authority to do so.

"I did not ask Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe to resign," the minister said.

"Instead I asked him a simple question - 'What's the solution to the vote of no confidence in you by the GFA congress and the ongoing court battle with the executive council?'

"I also put it to him that the various bodies involved in football could not work with him [Tamakloe].

"I expected him to take a cue from me and gracefully bow out but the chairman told me that he will not be resigning.

"I will now go back to the various football authorities within the system and urge them to take whatever decision they deem appropriate," Dr Maafo explained.