President John Dramani Mahama has said the high cost of transporting Ghanaian supporters from Ghana to venues for the 2026 FIFA World Cup makes it unrealistic for the government to sponsor large-scale travel.
According to him, the estimated cost per supporter is about $11,000, which he described as far beyond what the state can reasonably sustain for mass travel arrangements.
Speaking at a diaspora town hall meeting on Sunday, May 31, he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fiscal discipline, stressing that it cannot commit public funds to cover the full package of travel, accommodation, feeding, and match tickets for large numbers of fans.
“We cannot, you know, spend our money in that manner. The cost approximates for each person to be fed, accommodated, transported, and all that to watch the games, tickets, and all that is estimated at almost $11,000,” he said.
In response, he disclosed that government will instead procure match tickets for Ghanaians in the diaspora who wish to attend games in the host cities.
