By Issah Olegor
Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams has clarified that the government is not prohibited from facilitating Ghanaian supporters to attend major international sporting competitions, but cannot use funds specifically appropriated by Parliament to finance their travel and participation.
According to the Minister, the distinction is based on recommendations contained in the report of the Justice Dzamefe Commission, which investigated Ghana’s controversial participation in the 2014 FIFA World Cup and made recommendations concerning the use of public funds to support football supporters.
Adams said the government’s position has never been that Ghanaian supporters should not be assisted to attend major tournaments. Rather, any government facilitation must be done without relying on budgetary funds appropriated by Parliament for that purpose.
“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.
His clarification follows his disclosure to Parliament that the government spent approximately US$1.26 million 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 subsequently triggered debate over the extent to which the state should support Ghanaian fans at major international competitions, particularly where public funds are involved.
Adams’ latest comments seek to draw a line between the government helping to facilitate supporters’ participation and directly financing their attendance through Parliament-approved budgetary allocations.
The Justice Dzamefe Commission was established following Ghana’s participation in the 2014 World Cup and investigated various issues surrounding the country’s involvement in the tournament. Its recommendations were subsequently accepted by the government.
The Sports Minister’s position therefore suggests that government assistance to supporters remains possible, but the source and mechanism of financing must comply with the principles set out by the Commission.
