BY Issah Olegor
In a decisive step toward positioning Ghana for a strategic and profitable presence at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, on Wednesday inaugurated a Ministerial Oversight Committee tasked with steering the country’s global football ambitions far beyond the pitch.
The launch, held at the Presidency, marks the latest phase in government’s long-term agenda to leverage major international sporting events for tourism, diplomacy, and economic visibility.
This development builds on the renewed focus on sports as a tool for national branding—a shift that began under previous administrations but has intensified in the lead-up to the expanded 48-nation World Cup scheduled for the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
With Ghana hoping to reclaim its reputation as one of Africa’s most exciting football nations—following the Black Stars’ dramatic performances in 2006, 2010, and the subsequent decline in 2014 and 2022—the government is working to ensure that planning for 2026 is not confined to football logistics alone.
According to officials, the newly inaugurated Ministerial Oversight Committee will serve as the strategic nerve centre for inter-ministerial coordination, policy direction, and resource mobilisation.
Its mandate is sweeping: provide leadership, supervise the already functioning Technical Working Group, receive monthly and quarterly progress reports, and drive partnerships that could transform the participation into long-term dividends.
The Chief of Staff stressed that the 2026 World Cup “is not just a tournament but a four-year opportunity cycle,” a recognition that the value of participation lies as much in investment prospects, global branding, cultural diplomacy, and tourism marketing as in football performance.
Government sources say the committee will ensure Ghana capitalises on every window—from diaspora mobilisation and trade fairs across North America to youth development programmes tied to the global football economy.
The Ministerial Oversight Committee brings together a politically diverse yet strategically aligned group of policymakers, technocrats, and football figures.
The membership are:
1. Stan Xoese Dogbe – Office of the President
2. Kofi Iddie Adams, Minister for Sports and Recreation – Chairperson
3. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa – Ministry of Foreign Affairs
4. George Opare Addo – Ministry of Youth Development
5. Yusif Jajah – Deputy Minister, Ministry of Tourism and Culture
6. Ampem Darko-Nyarkoh – Deputy Minister, Ministry of Finance
7. Kurt E.S. Okraku – President, Ghana Football Association
8. Elizabeth Yankah – Deputy National Security Coordinator
9. Abedi Ayew ‘Pele’ – Legendary former Black Stars captain
10. Mrs. Wilhelmina Asamoah – Chief Director, Ministry of Sports and Recreation
11. An additional member is expected to be named in the coming days
Sports Minister Kofi Adams, who chairs the committee, underscored that the government is determined to elevate Ghana’s participation into a national development mission.
“This journey is not just about football,” he noted, “but about Ghana.”
His statement reflects the administration’s intention to align the World Cup project with broader economic recovery efforts, diaspora investment campaigns, and cultural showcase programmes ahead of 2026.
