President John Dramani Mahama has revealed that the government plans to buy match tickets for Ghanaians abroad to support Black Stars at the 2026 World Cup.
Mahama asserted that the 2026 World Cup, which is being hosted by three countries, presents significant logistical and financial challenges.
He disclosed that the cost approximates for each person to be fed, accommodated, transported, and all that to watch the games, tickets, and all that is estimated at almost $11,000.
According to John Mahama, the government cannot be in a position to fully sponsor large numbers of supporters travelling from Ghana,
Speaking at a diaspora town hall meeting on Sunday, May 31, President Mahama stated, “We are restricted because of the nature of this particular World Cup – it is being held in three countries. We are playing our first match in Canada, then we will be moving to Boston, and from there to Philadelphia. The cost of transporting, feeding, and accommodating each supporter is beyond our means.
“We say we are being fiscally disciplined. We cannot spend our money in that manner. The cost for each person to be fed, accommodated, transported, and all that, including tickets to watch the games, is estimated at almost $11,000,” he stated.
President added that, as a result, his government will focus its support on organised supporters’ groups and Ghanaian communities already based in host cities.
He further disclosed, “What we are doing is that we are procuring tickets for Ghanaians in the diaspora who want to attend the games. So if you want to attend the game, you will get a ticket to attend the game.
“We have organised our chapters, our Ghanaian citizens in Boston, Philadelphia and Canada. The tickets that we have purchased, we will give to them to enable them to watch the matches,” he stated.
Some Ghanaians reacting to President Mahama’s remarks stated, “I am tempted to believe that most of the supporters in Ghana who went for their visa-appointment interviews failed to secure visas.
If that isn’t the case, why wait till some of them have gone for the interview before the Prez comes out with this?
Anyways, it is a prudent decision”.
“If you are talking about fiscal discipline, why are you procuring tickets for people in the diaspora to attend the games? Don’t they have money to buy their own tickets if they truly love Ghana and want to watch the matches? Useless policies just to waste our money. Twaiii”, a netizen added.
A netizen added, “When you have a brilliant and smart leader who is ready to change the wrong ways of spending state resources, you get the best results. Thank you Mr. President. We don’t need to send people across three countries to watch a game. Ghana is moving in the right direction”.
One X user added, “I fully support this. There are more than 100K legal Ghanaians in the US, so purchasing a WC ticket for them to support the #BlackStars is more feasible than flying them abroad. Let’s be financially responsible here. Kudos @JDMahama, we support this wholeheartedly”.
“I don’t know why u guys wanna waste this money when there are Ghanaians already living there that can equally represent the country. Just buy them the tickets that’s it”, one X user added.
Watch the video below:
🎥 🇬🇭 “Transporting, feeding, ticketing and accommodating each supporter is estimated to cost almost $11,000, which is beyond our means.”
— Citi Sports (@CitiSportsGHA) May 31, 2026
“We have committed to fiscal discipline and cannot spend public funds in that manner,” —President John Mahama.#CitiSports pic.twitter.com/huBpqk2XSa
