President Mahama has advised the American movie hub, Hollywood, to refrain from exaggerating the transfer of $3 million to the Black Stars team during the recently held World Cup tournament in Brazil.
The government’s action generated widespread criticism both in Ghana and abroad, creating embarrassment for the government, especially at a time the country was struggling to deal with the falling Cedi and other economic challenges.
The $3 million dollars being guarded from the airport to the team hotel by Brazil’s security officials
Government’s decision to airlift the money to Brazil was revealed exclusively on Eyewitness News by the then Deputy Minister for Sports Joseph Yamin.
“I hope that they[Holywood] will be close to the truth as possible. Whatever Commission report comes out, I guess the Hollywood filmmakers will be interested in establishing the facts so that it tells as closely as possible the truth..” Mahama told Aljazeera
“…I’m sure they will try to make it more interesting, but well it if it’s packed, a whole Hollywood movie, then maybe we are salvaging something out of it,”Mahama added.
Officials sharing the money that arrived in Brazil from Ghana
Government was compelled to transfer $ 3 million to the black stars after the players threatened to boycott their final group match against Portugal, if their appearance fees were not paid.
Hollywood filmmakers after hearing the intriguing story of the cash transfer declared their intentions of conceptualizing stages of a movie that will put the spot light on Ghana and how the cash transfer was done. The President said jokingly that although he doubts he will be portrayed in the movie, he would not mind if American movie star Denzel Washington, plays the presidential character.
President Mahama also admitted that government erred in airlifting money to the team, saying “I think that this didn’t do us any good service and we need to look at the experiences that occurred in Brazil and take lessons from there, going forward, so that that doesn’t happen again.”
He was however optimistic that the Commission of Inquiry set up by government to investigate Ghana’s poor showing at the tournament will ensure that similar events do not occur in the future.
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By: Marian Efe Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
www.citifmonline.com/