President John Dramani Mahama has revealed that the Government of Ghana will not finance travel arrangements for supporters to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup, citing the need for fiscal discipline and responsible spending.
Speaking during an interaction with members of the Ghanaian community in the United Kingdom, the President explained that the cost of transporting and catering for supporters at the tournament would be too expensive for the state.
According to him, government calculations show that flying supporters to the World Cup, providing accommodation, feeding and match tickets would cost close to $11,000 per person.
“Transporting, feeding, ticketing and accommodating each supporter is estimated to cost almost $11,000, which is beyond our means,” Mahama stated.
The President stressed that Ghana must prioritize critical national needs rather than commit substantial public funds to supporter travel packages.
“We have committed to fiscal discipline. We cannot afford to spend public funds on flying supporters to the World Cup when there are other pressing national needs,” he added.
Instead of sponsoring travel from Ghana, the government plans to work closely with Ghanaian communities in the United States to ensure supporters already living abroad can attend matches and rally behind the Black Stars.
Mahama disclosed that efforts are underway to secure tickets for members of the Ghanaian diaspora who wish to support the national team during the tournament.
“So, we are focused on the supporters union, and we are procuring tickets for Ghanaians in the diaspora to go and watch the games,” he said.
The decision represents a shift from previous World Cup campaigns, where governments often assisted with travel arrangements for selected groups of supporters.
With Ghana preparing for its fifth appearance on football’s biggest stage, authorities believe supporting diaspora-based fans offers a more sustainable way of ensuring strong backing for the Black Stars while keeping public spending under control.