Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has pushed back against mounting criticism that he is withholding details of the Black Stars’ expenditure for their March 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, insisting that the budget will be released at the right time.
The minister’s comments come in the wake of President John Mahama’s call for greater transparency in national team spending, which was underscored during February’s State of the Nation Address. The President emphasized a clear shift from what he termed an era of “secrecy” and tasked the Sports Ministry with ensuring accountability from the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
More than three weeks after Ghana’s emphatic wins—5-0 over Chad in Accra and 3-0 against Madagascar in Morocco—many Ghanaians are still awaiting the promised financial disclosure.
However, speaking to Channel One News, Adams dismissed accusations of deliberate concealment.
“I’m not hiding it,” he said. “We have upcoming matches, and when the time is right, everything will be made public. It would be premature and misleading to publish a draft budget.”
He emphasized that the team’s journey is ongoing, and clarity will come in the context of the broader qualification campaign. Ghana is set to face Chad and Mali in September as they look to maintain their lead at the top of Group I, where they currently sit on 15 points—three ahead of Comoros.
Adams’ assurance, however, hasn’t quelled criticism from sections of the public and media who argue that financial transparency must be immediate to foster trust and prevent potential mismanagement.
As Ghana eyes a return to the World Cup stage, the tension between timely accountability and operational discretion continues to stir public debate, with many hoping the promised transparency materializes before the next whistle blows.
