Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams has defended the government’s spending on Ghana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign, arguing that the GH¢55,079,487 total cost was more prudent than the GH¢66 million spent at the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
Speaking to TV3, Mr Adams compared the figures as criticism continued over the cost of Ghana’s participation in the 2026 competition.
He said the amount spent in 2022 on appearance fees alone was greater than the full expenditure for the 2026 World Cup, which included appearance fees, per diems and other costs.
“That was how much we spent on this World Cup. Look, in 2022 in Qatar, appearance fees alone were GH¢59,150,000. So, just the appearance fee alone was more than all the money we spentappearance fees, per diems, all other expenses, and everything,” he said.
Mr Adams also pointed out that Ghana remained at the 2026 tournament beyond the group stage after qualifying for the knockout phase. That meant the team stayed in the United States longer than it would have done had it been eliminated after its first three matches.
“Our group game was played on the 27th. Under normal circumstances, the next day you have to be leaving, so you would have been paid per diem again for the 28th. By, 29th you are leaving; we are not going to pay. But because we qualified for the knockout stage, we have to stay up till the 3rd of July to play in Kansas,” he explained.
The minister said the spending figures demonstrated a difference between the approach taken by the administration of President John Dramani Mahama in 2026 and the previous government led by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in 2022.
“In 2026, even though we qualified out of the group stage, we spent GH¢55 million. Between a government that spends GH¢55 million when it qualifies out of the group stage and one that spends GH¢66 million when they left the competition at the group stage, who was prudent? Who was prudent?” he asked.
Purse holder payment defended
Mr Adams also responded to criticism of the GH¢120,000 paid to the purse holder for the 2026 World Cup.
He said the payment reflected the responsibilities attached to the position and questioned why it had attracted such criticism when the equivalent role had cost more during the 2022 tournament.
“But interestingly, I’m surprised that they were worried about the payment of one hundred and twenty thousand cedis to a purse holder in 2026. In 2022, when the World Cup was just in Qatar. Only Qatar. The purse holder received $10,000, equivalent to GH¢130,000 then, and in addition received an appearance fee of $50,000, that is GH¢650,000,” he added.
