Gov’t blows $7.4m on World Cup supporters

Ghana’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have been thrown into controversy following a dramatic shift in policy by the National Democratic Congress government, with the Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, now confirming plans to sponsor hundreds of supporters—despite earlier strong opposition to such a move.

In November 2025, the Minister had firmly ruled out any government involvement in funding supporters’ travel, citing economic constraints and competing national priorities.

He stated clearly, “I don’t think it’s something I would recommend. We’re currently in a difficult economic situation… that money could instead be used to build five multipurpose parks in some of the communities in need.”

He further advised that fans should rely on private means, adding, “If you want to go, find your own resources… or seek support from corporate organizations.”

This position was later reinforced by President John Dramani Mahama, who also rejected the idea of using public funds to transport supporters.

Speaking at a World Cup fundraising event in March 2026, the President emphasized fiscal discipline, stating, “The government has no plans to allocate public funds to fly supporters to the World Cup… The estimated cost for just 200 supporters is close to $2 million.”

However, in a sharp and unexpected turnaround, Kofi Adams has now disclosed that government intends to sponsor approximately 800 supporters to the tournament.

In his latest remarks, he confirmed the scale of the financial commitment, explaining, “The cost is quite high, so we’re thinking about not doing more than 800… the calculations we did, even at the group stage, will cost you about $9,250 per head.”

By this calculation, the total projected expenditure amounts to $7.4 million, covering airfare, accommodation, and transportation.

The Minister added that beneficiaries would still bear some costs, noting, “They have to pay for their visa fees… and feeding fees.”

He also disclosed that the Ministry had rejected proposals for feeding contracts, saying, “A lot of people have come to the ministry looking for a feeding contract, but I told them we’re not doing that.”

The latest admission has reignited scrutiny over an earlier controversy involving the Minister’s trip to Germany ahead of a friendly match involving the Black Stars where the team lost to the host.

A viral video at the time showed individuals—reportedly party supporters—travelling alongside him, with claims they had been sponsored.

The Ministry in a statement quickly denied this, insisting the Minister travelled alone and that those individuals were unknown to him.

Yet, in the video, one of the individuals was heard declaring, “We are going to support the Black Stars… we are going with Minister,” while pointing directly at Kofi Adams.

Notably, the Minister did not dispute the claim in the footage, raising questions that have now resurfaced in light of the latest policy shift.

Critics argue that the sequence of events exposes inconsistencies in government communication, suggesting a pattern of denial followed by admission.

What was initially dismissed as false has now taken the form of an official policy, fueling accusations of hypocrisy and lack of transparency.

The situation has left many Ghanaians questioning the credibility of official statements, particularly when earlier assurances appear to contradict current actions. With millions of dollars now reportedly committed to supporter travel, concerns are growing over accountability, prioritisation, and the true source of funding.