The Deputy Minority Chief Whip, Habib Iddrisu, speaking on behalf of the Minority Caucus in Parliament, has accused the government of secretly sponsoring NDC supporters to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
According to Habib Iddrisu, the actions taken by government officials and members of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) contradict President Mahama’s publicly stated position.
He alleged that Members of Parliament on the ticket of the NDC have been given two slots each, adding that District Chief Executives (DCEs) across the country have also been given three slots per constituency.
Habib Iddrisu further argued that the arrangement undermines the government’s stated position as opportunities to travel for the tournament are being distributed along partisan lines.
Speaking at a press conference addressed by the Deputy Minority Chief Whip, Habib Iddrisu, on Tuesday, June 9, stated, “Why is it the case that the president is saying something, but the Ministry of Youth and Sports is doing something else? Why is it the case that they said they are not sponsoring supporters to go to the World Cup, but they are giving NDC MPs two slots each, and they are giving their constituencies three slots through the DCEs?
“It is denting the image of Ghana. If you go to the American embassy today, over a thousand people have applied, but they have issued fewer than a hundred visas to some of them because the right thing has not been done, they are not properly screened, and when they do things like that, it dents the image of Ghana.”
His comment follows President John Dramani Mahama, who had earlier 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 due to the estimated cost per supporter being about $11,000.
He revealed that the government plans to buy match tickets for Ghanaians abroad to support Black Stars.
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.
If this isn’t wickedness, what is it?
— GHnow (@ghnow_) June 9, 2026
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