Ghana FA President Kurt Edwin-Simeon Okraku together with some leadership of the association on Tuesday called on the Vice President of Ghana Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia ahead of Ghana’s World Cup qualifier with Ethiopia.
Ahead of the game that will mark the start of the journey towards Qatar 2022, Kurt Okraku, together with the Vice President of the Ghana FA Mark Addo and the General Secretary Prosper Harrison Addo visited and shared some important discussions of the second gentleman of the land.
In the meeting on Tuesday at the Jubilee House, the leadership of the Ghana FA discussed a wide range of issues spanning from tax reliefs for football clubs, sports betting and VAT on gate proceeds.
In an official post on Facebook, the President of the Ghana FA Kurt E.S Okraku gave snippets of the vital discussions held with the Vice President and hinted at good things to come for football.
“We paid a visit to the Jubilee House where our Veep, H.E. Bawumia welcomed us to his office,” he wrote.
Kurt hinted that a significant discussion on the 17.5% VAT on gate proceeds during games was one of the major issues discussed with the VEEP.
Over the years, clubs have complained bitterly of how VAT is robbing them of the meagre gate proceeds and have called on the FA to engage government on that.
The meeting on Tuesday was hugely centered on that and indications are that football clubs may enjoy some reduction or complete abolishing of the 17.5 VAT on gate proceeds.
“We had a good meeting and many issues affecting the growth of our game were discussed including but not limited to the BIG VAT on football while other entertainment providers pay less,” he argued.
The engagement also brought on board the highly expected Sports Fund which government has promised to set up as well as how the sports industry can benefit from the unending sports betting in the country.
“The Sports Fund, activities of betting companies in Ghana and their NON-contribution to the development of sports, tax reliefs for companies who want to support football, development of more pitches for football, support for domestic football, support for clubs who represent Ghana in Africa and support for women’s football among others,” he concluded.
The Vice President of Ghana who is a huge sports enthusiast and an ardent football follower has never hidden his admiration for the biggest sporting event in the country.
He recently supported Hasaacas Ladies with a mouthwatering $10,000 ahead of the victorious WAFU Zone B Women’s Champions League as well as supporting his parent club RTU and some other clubs in the Ghana Premier League.
With this important engagement, expectations are that the football industry will be enjoying some relief soon which will serve as a major boost to the development of the game.