The Member of Parliament for Ketu North, Eric Edem Agbana, has expressed strong reservations about the idea of the government financing the travel of Ghanaian fans to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The tournament, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, will be the largest World Cup in history, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches.
Ghanaian supporters are widely recognised for the energy they bring to international competitions and are often described as the team’s “12th man.” However, Agbana believes the government should prioritise more pressing national needs.
Speaking on Eyewitness News with Sammie Wiafe, the lawmaker stressed that allocating state resources to sponsor fans would not be the best use of public funds.
“This is my very personal view and I hope I’m not misquoted. I have tried to do some rough calculations on what it would cost government to send a single supporter to the World Cup, and I do not think government should invest public funds to take supporters there.”
Agbana suggested that many fans who wish to attend the tournament can do so privately, while Ghanaian communities already living in the host countries are capable of offering strong support to the national team.