Politics
Minority demands full account of GH¢58m World Cup expenditure
The Minority in Parliament has turned the spotlight on Ghana’s 2026 World Cup spending, demanding a detailed, line-by-line account of how the GH¢58 million advance released for the Black Stars’ campaign was utilised.
The demand follows a briefing by the Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, before Parliament’s Youth and Sports Committee on Thursday, September 17, 2026, on expenditure related to Ghana’s participation in the tournament.
The Minority says while some major payments have been explained, significant questions remain over operational expenses, including flights, accommodation, transportation, logistics, catering, security and tickets.
‘Where is the detailed breakdown?’
Ranking Member of Parliament’s Youth and Sports Committee, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, is leading the call for greater disclosure.
He wants the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and other relevant institutions to publish a comprehensive breakdown showing exactly how the money was spent.
“Where is the detailed breakdown of the expenditure on flights, accommodation, internal transportation, laundry, training camps, logistics, catering, security, tickets and other operational expenses?” he asked.
According to the Minority, accounting for players’ appearance fees and officials’ allowances alone does not provide a complete picture of the entire World Cup expenditure.
$5m advance under scrutiny
The government released GH¢58.929 million, equivalent to US$5 million, as an advance to support preparations and Ghana’s participation in the group stages of the World Cup.
Assafuah said the Sports Minister had explained that Black Stars players received US$100,000 each as appearance fees, amounting to approximately US$2.6 million.
Payments to the technical team and other officials, including honoraria and per diems, reportedly brought expenditure to US$4,670,339 from the US$5 million advance.
But the Minority wants the remaining operational expenditure broken down in detail.
Laundry, transport and other costs questioned
The Minority has raised specific questions about figures contained in a reported GFA draft budget.
For instance, the draft reportedly allocated US$15,000 for laundry and US$38,000 for internal transportation.
Assafuah wants authorities to disclose what was actually spent, who provided the services, what contracts were signed, the applicable rates and the final amounts paid.
He stressed that the demand was not about questioning approved payments to players and technical staff.
Rather, the Minority wants the same level of transparency applied to every other expense incurred during the campaign.
3,000 World Cup tickets also under scrutiny
The Minority is also demanding a complete reconciliation of the World Cup tickets purchased for Ghana.
Assafuah called for details showing the number of tickets allocated, used, unused, transferred or resold, alongside an investigation into reported ticketing irregularities and allegations of resale.
The GFA reportedly purchased 2,922 tickets at a cost of about US$1.26 million, covering Ghana’s group-stage matches against Panama, England and Croatia.
According to reported details, 948 tickets were purchased for the Panama match, 1,000 for England and 974 for Croatia. The prices included a 10 per cent FIFA-approved administrative charge.
Minority demands account of millions in donations
The financial questions do not end with the government’s GH¢58 million advance.
The Minority is also demanding a complete reconciliation of financial contributions reportedly made by individuals and corporate organisations to support the Black Stars.
Among the contributions cited by Assafuah were US$2 million from Ibrahim Mahama of Engineers and Planners, US$100,000 from Shatta Wale, US$101,000 from Stonebwoy, GH¢5 million from Ghana Gas, GH¢5 million from GCB Bank, GH¢3 million from Ecobank Ghana and US$2 million from Gold Fields Ghana, among others.
Assafuah said the reported contributions and pledges amounted to US$7.516 million and GH¢33.08 million, with the reported corporate contributions in cedis amounting to GH¢115.756 million.
He is demanding details of when the funds were received, the accounts into which they were paid, who received them, how they were spent and whether any balances remain.
431 supporters and the cost of mobilisation
The Minority has also questioned the government’s facilitation of supporters travelling to the tournament.
Assafuah said the government had earlier indicated that it would not undertake mass transportation of supporters because a significant Ghanaian population was already living in the United States and Canada.
However, he said 431 supporters were eventually facilitated to travel, with expenses reportedly including some air tickets, match tickets, internal transportation, accommodation and stipends.
The Minority wants the Sports Ministry to publish the criteria used to select the supporters and the total amount spent on the exercise.
Minority calls for ‘accountability down to the last dollar’
The Minority’s central demand is for a comprehensive financial reconciliation rather than broad figures.
Assafuah said if government has been able to account for player appearance fees, honoraria and per diems, similar transparency should apply to every other expenditure.
The Minority also wants the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, the GFA and relevant institutions to account for funds received from FIFA in connection with the tournament, including money received for preparations and tournament-related activities.
The demand places Ghana’s World Cup finances under renewed public scrutiny, with the Minority insisting that every major payment should be traceable and properly documented.
For now, the political pressure is centred on one key question: how exactly was the GH¢58 million advance spent, and can every dollar and cedi be accounted for?
Politics
NPP HALTS CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES: Parliamentary Aspirants Face Disciplinary Action Over Early Campaigning
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has directed all prospective parliamentary aspirants to immediately cease campaign activities, warning that violators could face disciplinary sanctions, including consequences for their eligibility to contest.
In a statement dated October 11, 2026, and signed by General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong, the party said it had received numerous complaints about members seeking parliamentary positions who had begun campaigning in various constituencies ahead of the official timetable.
According to the statement, the activities contravene the party’s regulations and Code of Conduct, creating an uneven playing field and threatening the unity and discipline required for the party’s success.
The directive takes immediate effect and covers all prospective parliamentary aspirants, their agents and supporters. They have been ordered to suspend every form of campaign activity until further notice.
Among the prohibited activities are mounting posters, billboards, banners and other branded materials; organising rallies, polling station executives’ meetings or constituency tours to solicit support; distributing items or inducements to delegates and party members; and running paid media or social media advertisements promoting a candidature.
The party has also warned its officers at polling station, electoral area, constituency, regional and national levels, as well as the Tertiary Students Confederacy (TESCON), against promoting prospective aspirants on social media or facilitating premature campaign activities.
The statement cautioned that anyone who fails to comply would be dealt with under the party’s disciplinary procedures, with possible implications for their eligibility to contest in the party’s parliamentary primaries.
Meanwhile, the NPP leadership said the timetable and guidelines for its parliamentary processes would be announced in due course. Constituency and regional executives have been tasked with ensuring strict compliance within their respective jurisdictions.
The directive signals the party leadership’s intention to maintain order in its internal electoral processes and prevent aspirants from gaining an early advantage before the official campaign period begins.
Politics
MAHAMA EMBARKS ON TWO-DAY AHAFO TOUR: PRESIDENT SETS SIGHTS ON REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT UNDER ‘RESETTING GHANA’ AGENDA
President John Dramani Mahama has begun a two-day working visit to the Ahafo Region as part of his nationwide ‘Resetting Ghana’ tour, with attention expected to focus on development priorities and engagement with local communities.
President John Dramani Mahama has commenced a two-day working visit to the Ahafo Region as part of his broader Resetting Ghana agenda, an initiative associated with his administration’s vision for national development and improved governance.
The visit is expected to provide an opportunity for the President to engage with regional stakeholders, assess local development needs and discuss issues affecting residents and communities across the region.
The Ahafo tour also places the region’s development priorities in focus, particularly concerns relating to infrastructure, employment, healthcare, education and economic opportunities. However, the specific projects and policy issues scheduled for discussion during the visit have not been confirmed in the information provided.
As part of the working tour, attention will be on the President’s engagements with local authorities and other stakeholders, as well as any announcements or commitments that may emerge from the visit.
The Resetting Ghana agenda has been presented as a broader framework for addressing national challenges and improving the country’s development trajectory. The Ahafo visit offers another opportunity for the administration to engage with people at the regional level and hear concerns about local conditions and priorities.
Residents and other stakeholders will be watching closely for concrete outcomes from the engagements, including any commitments on development projects, public services and economic growth.
The central question is what tangible benefits the two-day visit will deliver for the people of Ahafo and how any commitments made will translate into action.
Further details on the President’s itinerary, scheduled meetings and specific announcements are needed to establish the full scope of the visit.
Politics
NDC ISSUES ULTIMATUM TO ASPIRANTS: REMOVE OVERSIZED CAMPAIGN POSTERS OR FACE SANCTIONS
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has directed aspirants to remove oversized campaign posters, warning that failure to comply with the directive could attract sanctions.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has reportedly issued a stern warning to aspirants over the display of oversized campaign posters, giving them an ultimatum to take down the materials or risk facing disciplinary action.
The directive is aimed at addressing concerns surrounding campaign publicity materials as aspirants intensify efforts to promote their ambitions within the party.
The warning signals the party’s intention to enforce its campaign guidelines and ensure that aspirants adhere to the rules governing promotional activities.
Under the directive, aspirants whose posters fall foul of the stipulated requirements are expected to remove them within the period prescribed by the party. Those who fail to comply could face sanctions, although the specific penalties and enforcement arrangements have not been detailed in the headline.
The development comes amid campaign activities within the NDC, where aspirants are seeking to increase their visibility and strengthen their appeal among party members ahead of internal contests.
The directive is expected to draw attention to the balance between candidates’ promotional efforts and the need to maintain order and compliance with party regulations.
However, further details regarding the deadline for compliance, the specific dimensions considered oversized, and the nature of the sanctions are needed to establish the full scope of the directive.

Politics
Ministers Fighting Deputies, Calls for Reshuffle and More: Gbande Details Friction in the NDC
Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mustapha Gbande, has raised concerns about internal tensions within the governing party, warning that divisions among members could undermine its political fortunes ahead of the 2028 general elections.
Mr Gbande has acknowledged strained relations between the party and government, as well as disagreements over appointments and the performance of some government appointees.
In May 2026, he admitted that some ministers needed to be reshuffled but cautioned that carrying out the exercise without addressing existing divisions could deepen tensions within the party.
“Some Ministers must be reshuffled. As a Deputy General Secretary, that is what I believe,” he stated.
He explained that the challenge went beyond replacing ministers, arguing that factional alignments and perceptions of favouritism could influence how any reshuffle was interpreted by party members.
“Our problem has gone beyond reshuffle. Who are you going to change? Because if we are not together, if you reshuffle someone, they’ll say it’s because you don’t like the person,” he said.
Mr Gbande called for consensus-building and greater unity among party members before major decisions were taken, warning that disagreements over appointments could further divide the party.
He has also cautioned that the NDC’s biggest threat ahead of the 2028 elections may come from within rather than from the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Speaking on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News on October 5, 2026, he stressed that how the party manages power, relationships and internal structures would be critical to its future electoral performance.
He urged members to avoid undermining one another and creating parallel structures that could weaken the party at the grassroots.
Mr Gbande’s comments highlight the internal cohesion challenges facing the NDC as it balances the demands of governing with the expectations of party faithful.
His remarks suggest that strengthening internal relationships and addressing grievances will be important as the party prepares for the next general election.
Politics
‘I’m Ready to Be Sacked by NPP’ – Butey Reveals Frank Davis Apologised Over Constitutional Amendment
Former National First Vice Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Smith Danquah Butey, has disclosed that he is prepared to face disciplinary action from the party over his position on the proposed constitutional amendment.
Mr Butey said he was ready to be sacked by the NPP if his stance on the amendment resulted in sanctions, insisting that he would not abandon his position on the matter.
Speaking on issues arising from the party’s 2026 National Delegates Conference, the former party executive revealed that Frank Davis had approached him before the amendment process and apologised to him, asking him to accept the proposed changes.
“I’m ready to be sacked by the NPP. But before this amendment, Frank Davis came to me, apologised and asked me to accept it,” Mr Butey stated.
His comments add another dimension to the ongoing discussions surrounding the proposed constitutional changes and disagreements over their adoption within the party.
Mr Butey has been vocal in his opposition to the amendment, previously warning that he would resort to legal action if anyone signed the proposed changes.
“If anyone signs the constitutional amendment, I will take the NPP party to court,” he earlier stated.
He has also maintained that the proposed amendment would not work, indicating that the process should be postponed until the party’s next conference.
The latest disclosure raises questions about the discussions that took place among party figures ahead of the proposed amendment and the efforts made to secure acceptance of the changes.
However, Mr Butey did not provide further details about the apology he said he received from Frank Davis or specify the particular provisions of the amendment that prompted his opposition.
It remains unclear whether the NPP leadership will respond to his latest comments or what steps the party intends to take regarding the proposed constitutional changes.
The issue is expected to remain part of discussions within the NPP as members consider the party’s constitution and internal decision-making processes.
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