Former Sports Minister Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye has commended Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams for choosing to mobilise private funding to support the travel of Ghanaian fans to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Vanderpuye described the move as both sensible and responsible, especially at a time when the country’s public finances are under significant strain. According to him, relying on private sector support rather than state funds reflects prudent leadership.
He referenced the recommendations of the Dzamefe Commission, which advised against the use of government resources to fly supporters to international tournaments, noting that the private initiative route is a more sustainable alternative.
“So, going by private initiative, mobilising private funds and private resources to be able to achieve this very important objective is a very worthy course, and I think I will commend the minister for it,” Vanderpuye told Citi Sports.
However, the former minister cautioned that expectations must be managed, stressing that the number of fans who will eventually travel will depend entirely on how successful the fundraising efforts prove to be.
“What is important is the caveat he brought, that the number of supporters who will be going will be dependent on how much they will raise from that fundraising,” he added.
Minister Kofi Adams earlier announced the formation of a joint public-private committee tasked with raising funds, a move aimed at ensuring that supporter travel arrangements do not place a direct burden on the national budget.
