The government has announced a new twist in its sponsorship of supporters for the 2026 World Cup, which is set for June.

This comes after President Mahama, while speaking at the Ghana World Cup fundraising campaign on Friday, March 20, at Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City in Accra, announced that the government will not sponsor the travel of supporters to the 2026 FIFA World Cup to prevent unnecessary pressure on the already strained public purse.

The President noted that the decision has been informed by recommendations from the Dzamefe Report, which advised the government to discontinue sponsoring fans to such tournamnets using taxpayers' money.

“In consonance with the Dzamefe Report, the government has no plans to allocate public funds to fly supporters to the World Cup,” he said.

However, following the government’s fundraiser, the Sports Minister, Kofi Adams, has revealed that the government plans to sponsor about 800 supporters to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

He disclosed that the cost per supporter is estimated at $9,250, covering airfare, accommodation, and local transportation throughout the tournament.

“The cost is quite high, so we’re thinking about not doing more than 800. The Supporters’ Union are many; we can’t take all. If we’re successful at sending [this number], the calculations we did, even at the group stage, will cost you about $9,250 per head. We’re paying for their air tickets, accommodation, and transport,” he said in an interview with Bernard Avle on Channel One TV’s The Point of View on Monday, March 30.

According to him, the $9,250 per head expenditure does not include feeding and visa. He said these two would be handled by the supporters as a form of contribution.

“They have to pay for their visa fees, which should be their contributions, and feeding fees,” he added.

Mr Adams further revealed that the ministry has declined requests from individuals seeking contracts to provide meals for the supporters during the tournament.

“A lot of people have come to the ministry looking for a feeding contract, but I told them we’re not doing that,” he revealed.

Why fly supporters when Ghanaians are abroad to support Black Stars

Citing the Dzamefe Report, which recommended that taxpayers’ money should not be used to sponsor fans for such tournaments, the Minister explained that the government is supporting the travel of members of the supporters’ union through funds raised at a recent fundraiser at the Kempinski Hotel. He emphasised the group’s critical role in energising and mobilising fans during the tournament.

“We are doing a fundraiser because, per the Justice Dzamefe Commission’s report, the state government is not to use budgetary funds to support fan participation in a tournament. But we know the role of these fans, organised fans, in tournaments such as this. You cannot go there empty and say you will mobilise individuals. You need a certain level of energy that will attract and bring on board the unorganised ones.

“So, we are preparing to send our supporters’ union that has been with us and loyal during the qualifying process. That organised group, through drumming and other activities, energises those you mobilise ordinarily to the stadium. When the supporters’ union starts singing, they energise the atmosphere, even when everyone else is tense. The report said we shouldn’t use state resources to send fans. Yes, so we have to raise funds, and the government’s white paper accepted this recommendation,” he continued.

Budget for the tournament

Mr Adams also revealed that his outfit has a budget for the tournament, which has been approved as part of the government’s official budget, and currently, an initial amount of GHC 160 million has been given to them, while the Ghana Football Association (GFA) hasn’t reported any developments that will require alterations to the budget.

“Yes, we have a budget, and you said that the 16 million is what has been given as an initial amount. So, this 16 million was proposed during the consideration of the 2026 budget, and this year, I have followed up and asked the FA if anything has happened that will throw this budget off track. They said no, so it means that we have a budget. So that's about 170 million cedis. No problem. No, it’s about 150, per the current exchange rate,” he stated.