Former Minister for Youth and Sports Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, has urged restraint over proposals for the government to finance the travel of Ghanaian supporters to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, arguing that public funds should not be used for such a venture.
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Speaking on the matter, Vanderpuye pointed to lessons from the Dzamefe Commission of Inquiry, which advised against the use of state resources for activities that fall outside core sporting development.
In his view, flying supporters to World Cup venues risks reopening issues the country has already been warned about.
His comments followed recent suggestions by the current Sports and Recreation Minister, Kofi Adams, that supporters could be flown out to back the Black Stars at the tournament.
Vanderpuye maintained that if such an idea is pursued, it should be handled by the fundraising committee set up to mobilise private support, not by the government.
In an interview on Thursday, February 5, 2026, Vanderpuye questioned the practicality of selecting who would benefit from any travel arrangement, describing it as a potential administrative nightmare
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“The question will not be who will be taken to the venue? That will be one of the most difficult things to do as a minister. I would not want to be in his shoes,” he told Citi Sports.
He noted that choosing supporters could easily trigger disagreements among fan groups and invite accusations of favouritism.
According to him, support for the national team should be open and fair, without political considerations.
“Every Ghanaian should be able to get the opportunity to support the Black Stars. I don’t think we should do politics with it,” he noted.
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