Ranking Member of Parliament for the Youth and Sports Committee, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, has raised concerns over payments made to officials who accompanied Ghana's Black Stars to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. His comments come after Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams appeared before Parliament's Select Committee on Sports to account for expenditure related to Ghana's World Cup campaign. Assafuah's concerns focus on the alleged payments to officials, which he believes require further explanation.
According to Assafuah, reported payments of $10,000 or more were made to individuals described as purse holders, chefs, caterers, and security officers. He questioned why someone responsible for holding money for players and officials would allegedly receive $10,000. Assafuah also challenged the reported payments made to other support staff, questioning whether the amounts reflected the length of time they spent with the team.
The Old Tafo MP pointed out that some payments seemed disproportionate to the services provided. He cited examples of a chef and a caterer each being paid 1.2 billion old cedis, while a security officer received 120,000. Assafuah asked, "For how many days?" He emphasized the need for clarity on these payments, given the significant amounts involved.
Assafuah's remarks form part of wider concerns raised over spending and accountability relating to officials who travelled with the Black Stars during the tournament. Ghana played four matches at the 2026 World Cup before their campaign ended with a 1-0 defeat by Colombia in the Round of 32 in Kansas City. The team was accompanied by various officials, including those whose payments have been questioned.
Minister Kofi Adams had sought to compare the payments with previous arrangements, but Assafuah argues that this does not justify the amounts paid. The MP's comments reflect concerns about transparency and accountability in the management of Ghana's national football team. The Select Committee on Sports is expected to investigate these matters further.
The controversy over payments to Black Stars officials has sparked debate in Ghana. Some have expressed frustration over the perceived lack of transparency in the team's expenditure. Others have called for greater accountability from those responsible for managing the team's finances. The issue is likely to continue to attract attention in the coming weeks.
The Black Stars' early exit from the 2026 World Cup has already led to criticism of the team's performance. The controversy over payments to officials is likely to add to the scrutiny faced by the team's management. Key points include:
Key points
- The MP questioned payments of $10,000 to purse holders and other officials.
- Assafuah challenged the proportionality of payments to support staff.
- The controversy has sparked debate over transparency and accountability in the management of Ghana's national football team.
