Eric Edem Agbana, the Member of Parliament for Ketu North, has strongly rejected claims by the Minority in parliament that the government has allocated special slots to NDC MPs for the World Cup.
According to Edem Agbana, the allegations are blatant falsehoods, boldly stating that no Majority MP has been allocated slots for the World Cup.
He further challenged the NPP minority, making the allegation to provide evidence.
Speaking on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News on June 10, 2026, Edem Agbana stated, “The Honourable Habib is in leadership, and with the greatest of respect to him, I must say that the statement he made on the floor yesterday about the Sports Ministry or government allocating slots to Members of Parliament from the NDC is not true. It’s a blatant falsehood”.
“The government earlier announced that no public funds will be spent to airlift supporters to the World Cup. However, the government engaged in a fundraising exercise and private individuals and organisations donated towards that exercise,” he said.
“What it means is that any Ghanaian that you may see at the World Cup may be part of people being sponsored privately and not from public funds,” he added.
Edem Agbana argued, “They come from a background where they spent public funds on airlifting supporters and party apparatus to World Cups. So even when it is not happening, they are assuming that it is happening”.
“I can tell you emphatically that no Member of Parliament from the Majority has been allocated slots to take people to the World Cup. It is a blatant falsehood,” he stressed.
“And I pray that when you call him, you put him to strict proof because he who alleges must prove,” he added.
His comments come on the back of the Deputy Minority Chief Whip, Habib Iddrisu, speaking on behalf of the Minority Caucus in Parliament, accusing 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.”
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama 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.
“The truth must be said, we are not messiahs.” — Fifi Fiavi Kwetey
— GHnow (@ghnow_) June 10, 2026
The NDC General Secretary delivers a candid message at the party’s 34th anniversary celebration, calling for honesty, responsibility, and collective effort in the party’s journey forward.#GHNow pic.twitter.com/n4KTG4wEXP
