Ibrahim Mahama, a Ghanaian businessman, has disclosed that he and President John Mahama were robbed during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
According to Ibrahim Mahama, the 2010 robbery experience in South Africa made him step away from closely following the Black Stars for a period until his soon pushed again to follow Ghana’s National Team.
Ibrahim Mahama disclosed this when he visited the Black Stars camp ahead of their crucial World Cup clash against Croatia on Saturday, June 27, 2026.
Speaking to the players, Ibrahim Mahama recalled his long-standing connection to Ghanaian football, including attending the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, where he was robbed.
He recounted, “In 2010, the president and I went to South Africa to watch the match, and we were robbed. And from then on, I just said to myself that I won’t follow football again. My son has actually been following football, and he encouraged me to look into it”.
He further told the Black Star players that, aside from the government bonus, he has a very special bonus for them.
According to Ibrahim Mahama, he has a much better bonus for the Black Stars player than the taxpayers, as he does not have to go to parliament.
Ibrahim Mahama admitted that he had initially held back on fulfilling a previous pledge, saying, “Really impressed me very, very well, very, very well. And I was holding money back even when I pledged, and I told the minister that look, I won’t give you the money till I see a good performance. But now I want to rush home and give him all the money.
“I thought he was coming to see players, but I’ve seen the technical team, and I’m very impressed. It looks like they’ve done a good job. And with Jordan here, as a young boy, I saw starting football from my mother’s house.
I’m so also proud that he’s actually grown up to be the captain of the Black Stars, where he would also mentor other young men.
Most of the young men, I don’t even know their names and their faces. I just hear the names, and I can’t put the face together. And I’ve heard a name and Semenyo, ‘where is [he]?’ And coming to see this team, it just reminds me of Agogo and how they came up and how they made us proud.
So listen, you guys, I’m going to follow your journey, and I’m going to also make sure that I invest in you, because not you alone, the technical team, you’ve done very well. And let’s find many more Ghanaians who have untold stories to see how we can…”.
He further expressed admiration for head coach Carlos Queiroz, saying, But once again, with the coach, I’m very, very proud because you came in at a shorter time, you’ve been able to put the boys together in your wonderful performance.
Ibrahim Mahama added, “Apart from the government’s bonus, I have a special bonus, yeah… over here. Championship! I was going to run away, but I’m actually… they’ve held me hostage, so I can’t fly back home. So I’m going to stay and watch you. I have a much better bonus for you than the taxpayers; they have to go to parliament, I don’t have to go to parliament, please do us proud, and you will be rewarded.
Watch the video below:
Ibrahim Mahama Ghana’s 🇬🇭 2nd richest man, has met the Black Stars and promised additional financial support for the team ahead of their next game.
— w.Bing🦚 (@_am_Bing) June 25, 2026
“Aside from the Government bonus, I have a very special bonus💸 for you. I have a much better bonus for you than the taxpayers😂” pic.twitter.com/fw4B2dkTnL
