An aide to former Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia has called on the government to redirect resources being mobilised for World Cup supporter travel toward cocoa farmers facing financial hardship, as the cost of Ghana’s fan sponsorship plan for the 2026 FIFA World Cup draws growing public scrutiny.
Akosua Manu, speaking on Asempa FM, said the funds being committed to supporter logistics at the tournament should instead be used to cushion struggling farmers. “The funds being mobilised to send supporters abroad should rather be used to cushion cocoa farmers who are struggling,” she said.
Her remarks come amid a notable contradiction in government messaging on the issue. President John Dramani Mahama, speaking at a World Cup fundraising event at the Kempinski Hotel on March 20, stated that the government had no plans to allocate public funds to fly supporters to the tournament, noting that even transporting 200 fans would cost close to $2 million. “In consonance with the Dzamepe report, the government has no plans to allocate public funds to fly supporters to the World Cup,” he said.
Ten days later, Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams disclosed that the government was planning to sponsor up to 800 supporters to the tournament at an estimated cost of $9,250 per person, covering airfare, accommodation and local transportation, which would put the total bill for fan logistics above $7 million.
Manu also raised concerns about transparency in how beneficiaries would be selected from what she described as an opaque process. “We are monitoring the situation closely because it appears only party footsoldiers may benefit from such opportunities,” she alleged.
On football administration, Manu acknowledged the unifying power of the sport but criticised what she described as misplaced priorities. “Football brings Ghanaians together, but decisions like sacking a coach after a friendly raise concerns,” she said, calling for the swift appointment of a replacement. “There is a need to appoint a new coach quickly because team synergy is important,” she added. She argued that the current focus appeared skewed away from strengthening the playing squad. “It seems more importance is being placed on sending supporters than on strengthening the team,” she said.
The policy reversal has drawn criticism from multiple quarters, with observers noting that the Sports Minister himself had firmly ruled out government involvement in fan travel as recently as November 2025, citing economic constraints and suggesting the money could instead fund community sports infrastructure.
Ghana has been drawn in Group L of the 2026 World Cup alongside England, Croatia and Panama, and will open their campaign against Panama on June 17 in Toronto. The fundraising campaign launched by the Ghana Football Association has attracted private corporate pledges, though the government’s parallel plan to also sponsor official supporter travel continues to generate debate over fiscal priorities.
