Eric Edem Agbana, Member of Parliament for Ketu North, has voiced concerns over the government’s proposal to sponsor supporters for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, arguing that public funds would be better invested in sports infrastructure. Speaking on Citi Eyewitness News on Monday, March 9, Agbana cautioned that the millions of dollars required to send fans to the tournament would impose an unnecessary financial burden on the state, with little long-term benefit to the wider public.
He noted that sponsoring a single supporter for the group stage could cost around $9,000—covering flights, match tickets, accommodation, and a daily food allowance. If 2,000 fans were sent, the total expenditure would reach an estimated $18 million. “Imagine distributing 2,000 supporters across 276 constituencies. Some constituencies would have fewer than 10 fans represented,” he explained. Agbana stressed that such funds would be more impactful if directed toward grassroots sports development, particularly in communities like Ketu North, where infrastructure is urgently needed to nurture young talent.
Rather than spending millions on fans, Agbana suggested a more practical use of the funds: improving local sports facilities, such as the construction of AstroTurf pitches or sports complexes in underserved areas. “If you asked me to bring even 10 people from Ketu North to go to the World Cup and spent $90,000 on that, I’d rather use that money to build a proper sports complex in my constituency,” Agbana said.
While Agbana is adamant that public funds should not be used for this purpose, he clarified that if private companies or organisations were to sponsor the supporters, he would have no objections. “If the private sector wants to take on this responsibility, I have no problem. But the government’s primary focus should be the long-term development of sports, not sending a few fans on a trip to Qatar,” Agbana concluded.
Source: Richard Obeng Bediako
