Sports and Recreation Minister, Kofi Adams, has defended the decision not to disclose the budget for the Black Stars’ matches against Chad and Madagascar in the ongoing 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
President John Mahama had earlier stated in his State of the Nation Address that budgets for national teams would be made public.
However, ahead of the crucial Matchday 5 and 6 fixtures, calls intensified for the government to reveal financial details of the team’s preparations.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show, Adams explained that withholding the budget was necessary to prevent distractions that could affect the team’s focus and performance.
“People were asking me to disclose the budget for the games, but I kept asking myself, what will the budget do for the team ahead of the games? Sometimes, certain situations create distractions, so we must weigh every decision carefully,” he said.
Despite the secrecy, the minister assured the public that the budget details would eventually be made available.
“The budget for the team will be made available. There is nothing to hide, but people must understand that running the national team is expensive because most of the players come from Europe. Apart from that, all details will be made public,” he added.
The Black Stars will now turn their focus to their next round of games against Chad and Mali as they push for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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