The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has disclosed that one of the shipping containers used to transport nine buses procured by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for Division One League clubs contained 40 mattresses. According to information provided to JoySports, the total cost associated with this particular container amounted to GH₵356,380.33. It remains unclear whether these mattresses were intended for the upgraded Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence or for another purpose. The revelation follows an earlier report by JoySports indicating that some of the imported buses, which cost a total of GH₵5.1 million (GH₵575,000 per bus), had yet to be registered due to missing documentation. Additionally, one of the buses delivered to Hohoe United was reportedly taken directly to a mechanic shop in Accra upon arrival. Initial reports also mentioned that other unidentified items were found in the container along with the used Hyundai County bus, later confirmed to be medium-sized and student mattresses.

Following inquiries from JoySports journalist Muftawu Nabila Abdulai, the GRA provided an official response detailing the container’s contents. The breakdown revealed that it contained 25 packs of medium-sized mattresses and 15 packs of student mattresses. The cost, insurance, and freight (CIF) value of the bus itself stood at GH₵212,783.08, while the 25 medium-sized mattresses were valued at GH₵32,597.50, and the student mattresses at GH₵14,027.29. In addition, the duty on the bus was set at GH₵72,116.10. For the mattresses, the GRA calculated the import duty to be GH₵17,000.86 for the medium-sized ones and GH₵7,311.63 for the student mattresses. The total import duty paid for the entire container’s contents was GH₵96,972.46, which the GFA settled via its Zenith Bank account. The overall expenditure on the container, including CIF and duty costs, amounted to GH₵356,380.33, raising questions about the necessity and intended use of the mattresses.

This latest revelation has fueled ongoing scrutiny regarding the GFA's procurement process, particularly after concerns were raised about the purchase of second-hand buses for Division One League clubs. Some stakeholders have criticized the football governing body for a lack of transparency, especially since the purpose of the additional items in the container was not initially disclosed. Meanwhile, GFA President Kurt Okraku has defended the association’s efforts, stating that the organization remains the best-run sports institution in Ghana. However, the discovery of the mattresses has added to the growing controversy surrounding the bus importation, with many calling for more clarity on the GFA’s financial decisions. As discussions continue, football enthusiasts and stakeholders await further explanations regarding the justification for including these mattresses in the shipment and how they align with the GFA's broader objectives.