The Minority in Parliament has demanded a comprehensive, line-by-line account of Ghana’s expenditure on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, questioning the management of public funds, corporate contributions, supporter mobilisation, ticketing and other arrangements surrounding the Black Stars’ campaign.
The Minority has also called on President John Dramani Mahama to dismiss the Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo, or require him to step aside pending investigations into alleged irregularities surrounding a World Cup visa facilitation arrangement.
The Ranking Member of Parliament for the Youth and Sports Committee, Hon Vincent Ekow Assafuah, made the demands at a press briefing in Parliament on Thursday, September 17.
He stressed that the Minority’s concerns were not directed at the Black Stars players but at the management of resources committed to the national team.
“This is not an attack on our players. The Black Stars belong to every Ghanaian.”
“Our concern is the management of the resources committed to the national team and the decisions taken by the institutions responsible for Ghanaian football,” he added.
Mr Assafuah said the Sports and Recreation Minister, Kofi Adams, had provided some explanation regarding the reported GH¢58 million expenditure on Ghana’s World Cup campaign but had failed to provide the detailed information being demanded by the Minority.
“We acknowledge these figures, but the question remains. What about the basic operational expenditure?” he asked.
“Where is the detailed breakdown of the expenditure on flights, accommodation, internal transportation, laundry, training camps, logistics, catering, security, tickets and other operational expenses?”
According to him, the Minority was particularly interested in the contracts and actual payments made for services connected to the tournament.
“We want to know who provided these services. What contracts were signed? What were the applicable rates, and what amounts were ultimately paid?”
He said the committee did not receive satisfactory answers from the Minister when he appeared before it.
“If government has accounted for the appearance fees and per diems, then we are asking for the same level of transparency for every other expenditure incurred during the campaign,” Mr Assafuah said.
He added: “Ghanaians deserve to know how the entire $5 million was utilised, down to the last cedi.”
Corporate donations questioned
The Minority also demanded a full reconciliation of corporate and private contributions made towards the Black Stars’ World Cup campaign.
Mr Assafuah cited a reported US$5 million commitment by businessman Ibrahim Mahama of Engineers and Planners, alleging that only US$2 million had been paid.
“Today as we speak, our committee and the Minority can confidently tell you that only $2 million of that money was paid,” he said.
“We asked the Minister for such answers, and the Minister ran away from that question. The Minister is saying that he is not aware as to how much was paid.”
He also mentioned pledges from Ghana Gas, GCB Bank, Ecobank and other institutions, saying the total contributions and pledges amounted to significant sums in both dollars and cedis.
“In total, we are talking about 115 million Ghana cedis. These contributions cannot simply disappear into the general pool without accountability. There should be accountability.”
The Minority wants details of the date and account into which each contribution was paid, who received the funds, how each contribution was used, and any balance remaining after the tournament.
“We therefore demand a complete reconciliation of every contribution received,” Mr Assafuah said.
431 sponsored supporters questioned
The Minority also questioned the sponsorship of Ghanaian supporters who travelled to North America for the tournament.
Mr Assafuah said the Minister had informed the committee that nearly 1,000 people applied to be sponsored by the Ministry of Sports, with 431 receiving visas and being sponsored.
He demanded a full account of the cost involved.
“How much was spent on their flight? We are not getting any answers. How much was spent on their accommodation? We are not getting any answers. How much was spent on their internal transportation? We are not getting answers.”
He also questioned the number of supporters sponsored by the NSA in addition to those sponsored by the Ministry.
“What was the total cost? What was the cost per individual? And how many, more importantly, how many of these supporters returned to Ghana after the tournament?” he asked.
Mr Assafuah further demanded that the government publish the names and passport details of the 431 sponsored supporters to establish whether they returned to Ghana.
“We are asking the Minister to publish all 431 people, their passport number and their names, as to whether these people actually returned to Ghana or not.”
Source: Felix Nyaaba/expressnewsghana.com
