The non-existence of branding materials of GNPC at Ghana’s opening 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Ethiopia confirms reports the oil company has ended its mammoth sponsorship of the Black Stars.

There had been denials over the revelation made by the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu of a decision to have GNPC withdraw from its sponsorship agreement with the Ghana FA.

Sports Minister Isaac Asiamah had mounted a staunch defence to this revelation – insisting the five-year sponsorship agreement between the state-owned oil company and the GFA worth $15m remained intact.

“I speak as the Minister for Youth and Sports. The GNPC deal will continue, the support for the national team will continue,” he said back in April.

”We are going to ensure that we place much emphasis on transparency and accountability this time round. We will ensure that there is proper oversight by the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

”So now the amount will be channeled through the Ministry of Youth and Sports. It is no longer going to go through the GFA.”

The sector Minister’s statement was however not supported by the evidence on the ground as it was surprising to see absolutely no branding material of GNPC in Ghana’s opening 2019 AFCON qualifier against Ethiopia on Sunday.

This has been an exception to the norm over the past years since GNPC became headline sponsors of the Black Stars.

The state-owned oil company usually clad venues for Black Stars activities especially in high profile matches of this nature with their branding and advertising materials.

Only UniBank – the official bank sponsor of the Black Stars – displayed their branding material for the game, making them currently the only sponsor of the Black Stars.