The government can facilitate Ghanaian supporters to attend major international sporting competitions, but cannot use funds appropriated by Parliament for that purpose, Minister for Sports and Recreation Kofi Adams has clarified.
Adams explained that the government’s position is guided by recommendations of the Justice Dzamefe Commission, which investigated Ghana’s participation in the 2014 FIFA World Cup and addressed the use of state funds to support supporters at major tournaments.
“We never said in a way that we were not going to send supporters. We were not going to use budgeted funds as appropriated by Parliament to ferry supporters because that is what the Justice Dzamefe Commission report said. It said if government has to facilitate, government must not use budgeted funds,” Adams told JoySports.
The clarification comes after Adams disclosed to Parliament that approximately US$1.26 million was spent to procure 2,922 tickets for Ghana’s three group-stage matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The tickets were distributed among members of the Ghana Supporters Union, Ghanaians living in the diaspora, government officials, the Ghana Students Association and selected Ghana Football Association officials.
The disclosure generated discussion over the government’s role in supporting Ghanaian fans at major sporting events and how such support should be funded.
Adams’ comments indicate that while government support for supporters is not prohibited, the funding mechanism must comply with the recommendations of the Dzamefe Commission.
The Justice Dzamefe Commission was established to investigate matters surrounding Ghana’s participation in the 2014 World Cup, with its recommendations subsequently accepted by the government.
The Sports Minister’s clarification therefore distinguishes between facilitating supporters and using Parliament-approved budgetary allocations to finance their participation in major tournaments.