President John Dramani Mahama has confirmed that the government will not use state funds to fly fans to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Ghana’s national team, the Black Stars, are set to make their fifth appearance at the tournament this summer, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Speaking at the Ghana World Cup fundraising event at the Kempinski Hotel on Friday, March 20, Mahama said that even supporting a small group of fans would come with a “staggering” cost.
“In consonance with the Dzamepe report, the government has no plans to allocate public funds to fly supporters to the World Cup,” he said.
“The logistical support of flying and accommodating even just 200 supporters is staggering. The estimated cost for just 200 supporters is close to $2 million.”
Mahama emphasized that while fan support is vital, public resources must be prioritized for national needs such as job creation.
“We all want to see our fans in the stands, but we must be responsible in how we use public resources.”
The Black Stars, drawn in Group L with Panama, England, and Croatia, will open their campaign against Panama on June 17, face England on June 23, and close the group stage against Croatia on June 27.
The fundraising campaign has already received significant support. Ibrahim Mahama’s company, Engineers & Planners, pledged $5 million, while music stars Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy contributed $100,000 and $101,000, respectively.
Mining firm Gold Fields also committed $2 million immediately, with an additional $1 million planned for next year.
Several other corporate entities have made pledges to back the team’s World Cup preparations.
