体坛英语新闻：Ghana to airlift 500 fans to Brazil

ACCRA, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Ghana will sponsor 500 fans to cheer the national team, the Black Stars at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, a senior official confirmed here on Monday.

Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah, minister of youth and sports told journalists that the airlifting of the supporters will take off this coming weekend with the possibility of the number increasing as the tournament wore on.

"How many supporters, as at today, I can confirm 500," he told the media.

"I mentioned that as at today because we are still redeeming pledges and therefore there is the possibility that the number will rise. I am confident that we will be able to go beyond this number but then I can confirm 500," said Afriyie-Ankrah.

Concerns have been raised over the state's use of consolidated funds to transport thousands of fans to support national teams during major international events.

Some believe it is a waste of tax payers' money and considering the present economic hardships facing the country, it wasn't prudent to expend millions of US dollars for such purposes.

But the Ghanaian government in March this year stated that it would not use money from the consolidated fund to sponsor fans to support the Black Stars.

The Black Stars are currently fine-tuning in Miami, USA ahead of the World Cup which begins on June 12.

Ghana will play the US on June 16 before coming up against Germany and Portugal in a group which has been christened as the "Group of Death".