Former Ghana Football Association vice president George Afriyie has shed light on the financial implications of housing Black Stars coaches in hotels, warning that the approach previously placed a significant burden on the game’s resources.
His remarks come at a time when questions continue to surround accommodation arrangements for new head coach Carlos Queiroz, who is currently expected to stay in a hotel following the repurposing of the official residence.
The Ghana Football Association had earlier explained that the property designated for the national team coach had been converted into a technical facility, citing limited usage in recent years. As a result, Queiroz will initially be lodged in a hotel as he begins work with the team.
However, Afriyie has raised concerns about the long-term cost of such arrangements, drawing from past experience during the tenure of former GFA president Kwesi Nyantakyi.
“In the Kwesi Nyantakyi era, we were crippling the government with Black Stars coach accommodation expenses. To the extent that the GFA almost collapsed Alisa Hotel with debts from the Black Stars coach living at the hotel,” he stated on Adom FM.
His comments highlight the financial strain that prolonged hotel stays can place on the association and, by extension, the state, reigniting debate over the most sustainable approach to managing national team logistics.
While the GFA maintains that the conversion of the residence is part of a broader effort to strengthen football administration, critics argue that the decision could lead to recurring costs that outweigh its intended benefits.