Ghana’s Sports and Recreation Minister, Kofi Adams, has dismissed suggestions that he was influenced into publishing the Black Stars’ budget for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Mali.
Adams addressed the media on Tuesday, September 2, outlining the cost framework for the fixtures, which included significant cutbacks. The budget saw the $10,000 bonus for Management Committee members scrapped, fuel allocations for the team bus removed, and a 50% reduction in winning bonuses for the head coach, his assistants, and the playing squad.
Speaking on Sporty FM, Adams was adamant the decision to disclose the figures was his alone.
“Nothing pushed me to release the Black Stars budget. I indicated that I would put the budget out when it is ready, and it was made ready on September 1, and we put it out on Tuesday, September 2,” he said.
“I don’t act on anyone’s push, but we act when we have to act. If you are a leader and you act based on being pushed, then you are not a leader. As a leader, you do things at the right time and not based on what people say or what people want you to do, and that is what I have always done. I am happy that we did it yesterday, and I am happy with the way we did it.”
The Black Stars, who sit top of Group I, travel to N’Djamena to face Chad on Thursday, September 4, before returning to the Accra Sports Stadium for a nerve cracking clash against Mali four days later.
