The Ministry of Sports and Recreation has firmly denied reports suggesting that the government plans to use public funds to sponsor Ghanaian supporters to attend the FIFA World Cup, describing the claims as misleading and inaccurate.
In a statement, the Ministry reiterated that both President John Dramani Mahama and the Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Iddie Adams, have consistently maintained that taxpayer money will not be used to finance fan travel to the global tournament.
According to the Ministry, the decision is based on the significant cost involved in sponsoring supporters, estimated at approximately $11,000 per person, as well as the need to prioritise national development and investments in sports infrastructure.
The Ministry noted that its position is guided by recommendations contained in the Justice Dzamefe Committee Report and the government’s White Paper, which discourage the use of state resources to transport supporters to international competitions.
It stressed that all actions taken by the Ministry have been in line with these directives, ensuring prudent management of public funds.
Rather than relying on government financing, the Ministry said it has embraced a private sector-driven model to support Ghana’s participation in the World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
As part of this strategy, a fundraising campaign was launched at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra following a directive from President Mahama. The initiative seeks to mobilise approximately $30 million from corporate Ghana to support the national team’s World Cup campaign.
The Ministry explained that any funds remaining after tournament-related expenses would
be channelled into sports infrastructure projects across the country.
Sports Minister Kofi Iddie Adams assured the public that transparency and accountability would remain central to the management of all contributions received under the initiative.
He also commended corporate organisations that have responded positively to the fundraising drive and pledged that detailed updates on donations and expenditure would be made available at the appropriate time.
The Ministry emphasised that while the government welcomes supporters travelling to cheer on the Black Stars, such arrangements must be funded responsibly through private means rather than public resources.
It reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Ghana’s World Cup participation through strategic partnerships with the private sector and sound financial management.
