Sports Minister Kofi Adams and GFA Face Parliamentary Scrutiny Over 2026 World Cup Expenditures

The Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has appeared before Parliament to account for the government's spending during Ghana's 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign. The hearing, led by the Youth and Sports Committee, has brought several high-profile payments into the spotlight, most notably a US$50,000 honorarium paid to the President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Okraku. These disclosures come as lawmakers seek greater transparency regarding how public funds are utilized for national team assignments following the Black Stars' exit from the tournament in the Round of 32 against Colombia.

Vincent Ekow Assafuah, the Ranking Member of the Youth and Sports Committee, raised sharp questions regarding the rationale behind specific payments to support staff and officials. Beyond the honorarium for the GFA President, records presented to Parliament revealed that a GFA official was paid US$10,000 to serve as a 'purse holder' for the team. Assafuah further questioned reported payments of $10,000 or more to other individuals, including chefs, caterers, and security officers, arguing that the amounts seemed disproportionate to their roles and the duration of the tournament. The committee emphasized the need for clarity on why such substantial sums were disbursed to non-playing personnel.

In addition to individual payments, the Ministry’s expenditure on fan participation was also scrutinized. Minister Kofi Adams clarified that while the government facilitates travel for supporters, direct monetary support from budgeted funds is strictly prohibited. However, records show that approximately $1.26 million was spent to secure 2,922 tickets for the tournament. These tickets were distributed among various stakeholders, including the Ghana Supporters Union and government officials. Adams noted that this approach was designed to align with the recommendations of the Justice Dzamefe Commission, which was established to investigate similar issues following the 2014 World Cup.

As the parliamentary inquiry continues, the focus remains on balancing the need to support the national team with the responsibility of fiscal accountability. The revelation of these figures has sparked a broader debate about the costs associated with Ghana’s participation in major sporting events. Moving forward, the Youth and Sports Committee is expected to demand more detailed breakdowns of all tournament-related expenditures to ensure that future campaigns are managed with greater financial prudence and transparency.