The Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has announced a significant budget cut for the Black Stars, with a particular focus on eliminating bonuses for the management team. Previously, members of the management committee were receiving $10,000 as winning bonuses, while players earned $5,000 during national team assignments.
Speaking to reporters in Accra ahead of Ghana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Chad, Mr. Adams emphasized the need to reduce unnecessary expenses in the budget submitted by the Ghana Football Association (GFA). He revealed that the Sports Ministry has decided not to pay winning bonuses to the management team members of the national teams moving forward.
Instead, players will now receive a $150 per diem, while technical team members will earn $200. These allowances will be paid in dollars during away games and in the local currency for home matches. The Minister also highlighted that the initial budget of $2 million for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers has been revised to $1.3 million, with the estimate for the Chad fixture alone reduced from over $1 million to $860,000.
Furthermore, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) responded to the Minister’s briefing by urging Ghanaians to focus on the upcoming matches before making further comments. The Black Stars, under the guidance of Otto Addo, have departed for N’Djamena to face Chad before hosting Mali at the Accra Sports Stadium. Ghana currently leads Group I with 15 points, three ahead of Comoros.
In conclusion, the Sports Ministry’s decision to cut bonuses for the management team and reduce overall expenses for the Black Stars reflects a commitment to financial prudence and efficiency. The GFA has promised to provide further clarification after the Mali game, emphasizing the importance of maintaining focus on the immediate national task at hand.
