Ghana’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers have taken a sharp financial turn. The Ministry of Sports and Recreation has announced sweeping cuts to the Black Stars’ budget, slashing allocations across multiple departments in the name of efficiency and accountability.
The original estimate of $1.2 million for the away clash against Chad has been reduced to $841,290 after a review. Expenditure on incidentals has been cut from $60,000 to $20,000, while player bonuses have been halved from $10,000 to $5,000. Officials’ bonuses were scrapped altogether, with support staff such as doctors, analysts, and physiotherapists also facing reductions.
Despite the sweeping changes, the $300,000 allocation for a chartered flight remains intact. Sports Minister Hon. Kofi Adams defended the revisions, stressing that the cuts are designed to prioritize essential needs. “About 95% or more of your national team players are playing abroad, so we spend heavily on tickets to bring them home. These adjustments are about efficiency and accountability,” he said.
The management committee of the Black Stars has also been affected. Members, including chairman Dr. Randy Abbey and vice-chair Stephen Appiah, will no longer receive winning bonuses. Hon. Adams confirmed that only the players will receive performance-based rewards, capped at $5,000 for the upcoming fixtures.
Transparency was another key theme in the minister’s briefing. He revealed that a proposed $5,000 allocation to fuel the team bus was struck off the budget entirely. This decision comes amid public scrutiny of how funds are allocated to the national team, with critics often questioning the size of operational budgets.
The Sports an Recreation Ministry also addressed long-standing concerns about government funding of supporter groups and media contingents for international games. Hon. Adams was categorical, dismissing speculation that large sums are earmarked for flying fans abroad. “There’s no such thing as a huge provision for media or supporters. Our focus is on technical and player welfare needs,” he said.
For Ghana, the financial recalibration comes ahead of two crucial qualifiers in early September. The Black Stars are in Ndjamena to face Chad before hosting Mali in Accra. Both matches are expected to have a direct impact on their World Cup hopes, and with resources now under tighter control, the focus will be on performance rather than perks.
