The Member of Parliament for Ketu North, Eric Edem Agbana, has called on the government to prioritise sports infrastructure development instead of using public funds to send football supporters to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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‎Speaking in an interview on Citi FM, Mr Agbana argued that funding travel for supporters would place an unnecessary financial burden on the country while benefiting only a limited number of people.
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‎He suggested that the same resources could be invested in building sports facilities across communities in Ghana to support grassroots sports and long-term development.
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‎Highlighting the potential costs involved, the MP said transporting even a modest number of fans to the tournament could be extremely expensive. According to him, the estimated cost per supporter for the group stage alone could reach about $9,000, covering flights, match tickets, accommodation and allowances.
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“With about 2,000 supporters, the government could spend approximately $18 million,” he said.
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‎Mr Agbana added that the money could make a far greater impact if directed toward infrastructure projects.
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“If you ask me to bring even 10 people from Ketu North to the World Cup and you will spend close to $90,000, I will tell you: please use that to construct an AstroTurf or a sports complex for me in Ketu North,” he explained.
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‎He stressed that government spending on sports should focus on sustainable initiatives such as community sports complexes and AstroTurf pitches that can serve young athletes and local teams across the country.
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‎The debate over how Ghana should allocate resources for the World Cup has intensified in recent weeks, with some stakeholders calling for stronger investment in grassroots sports development rather than one-off expenditures.