Minority alleges secret govt sponsorship for World Cup fans, MPs given slots despite Mahama’s ‘no state funds’ pledge.
The Minority Caucus in Parliament has accused the government of secretly facilitating travel arrangements for some supporters to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite President John Dramani Mahama’s assurance that the state would not sponsor fans for the tournament. Speaking at a press conference in Accra on June 10, Deputy Minority Chief Whip Habib Iddrisu alleged that each NDC Member of Parliament had been allocated two slots to nominate individuals for travel, while District Chief Executives had been directed to allocate three slots per constituency. He questioned the consistency between the President’s position and the alleged actions of government officials, arguing that the arrangement raises concerns about transparency, fairness, and political favoritism. Mr. Iddrisu also warned that the reported process could harm Ghana’s international reputation and affect visa approvals, claiming that inadequate screening of applicants has contributed to low visa issuance rates. The government and the Ministry of Youth and Sports have yet to respond publicly to the allegations.
