Sports Minister Kofi Adams defends delay in releasing Black Stars Budget

Minister for Sports and Recreation Kofi Adams has addressed the ongoing debate surrounding the undisclosed budget for the Black Stars' recent 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Chad and Madagascar.

The minister’s decision to withhold financial details has sparked public debate, especially after President John Mahama called for greater transparency in national team expenditures.

In an interview on Channel One TV's Face-to-Face program with Umaru Sandu Amadu, Adams reassured Ghanaians that the budget would be made public at the appropriate time, stressing the need to focus on the team’s upcoming fixtures.

“I am not hiding the budget for the Black Stars, you will know it when the time is right, we have next assignments coming up,” Adams stated, prioritizing the team's future games over financial disclosures.

The Black Stars secured impressive victories in their World Cup qualifiers, defeating Chad 5-0 in Accra on March 21 and Madagascar 3-0 in Morocco on March 24. These results have placed Ghana at the top of Group I with 15 points, boosting their World Cup qualification hopes.

However, the delay in disclosing the budget has drawn criticism from fans and sports journalists who emphasize the importance of financial transparency. President Mahama, in his State of the Nation Address, reiterated the need for national team budgets to be accessible to taxpayers.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that the Parliamentary Select Committee for Youth & Sports has urged Adams to brief the media on the budget soon. As Ghana prepares for its next qualifiers against Chad and Mali, the call for transparency in football finance continues to be a hot topic among supporters and the public.