National team budget reviews saved Ghana nearly $700,000 – Sports Minister

Ghana’s Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, says a review of spending on the national men’s football team has delivered significant savings without disrupting preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Speaking during a high-level meeting with Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, Adams revealed that tighter controls and revised release processes around the Black Stars’ budget saved the state close to $700,000 across two recent international matches.

The engagement at the Sports Ministry was attended by Ghana Football Association President Kurt Okraku, Deputy Directors of the National Sports Authority Veronica Commey and Gideon Hammond, and Chief Director of the Sports Ministry, Wilhelmina Asamoah.

The minister explained that the cost-cutting measures were introduced ahead of the decisive round of Ghana’s World Cup qualifiers, a period that often brings heightened financial pressure.

Rather than slash essential support, the ministry worked with the FA to streamline expenditure and improve oversight, ensuring value for money while maintaining standards.

“We’ve worked together with the FA to make sure that we rationalize our budgeting and release processes and this in a way has saved close to about 700,000 in two games involving the Black Stars,” Adams said.

“All these have gone a long way to build confidence and the players did not suffer, the technical team did not suffer. They continued, Your Excellency, to receive what is due them even in these savings.”

Ghana is scheduled to compete at the 2026 World Cup later in June, with officials confident the financial discipline will strengthen long-term planning for the Black Stars.