'They are giving NDC MPs two slots each, constituencies three slots' — Minority accuses govt of secret World Cup travel slots
The Minority Caucus in Parliament has alleged that the government is quietly facilitating travel arrangements for supporters to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite earlier assurances by President John Dramani Mahama that public funds would not be used to sponsor fans to the tournament.
According to the Minority, actions by some government officials and members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) appear inconsistent with the President's stated position, raising questions about the transparency of the process.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, June 9, Deputy Minority Chief Whip Habib Iddrisu claimed that NDC Members of Parliament have each been allocated two slots for prospective World Cup travellers.
He further alleged that Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives across the country have been directed to allocate three additional slots in each constituency.
Mr Iddrisu argued that if government has indeed decided not to sponsor supporters to the tournament, the reported allocation of slots requires clarification.
“Why is it the case that the president is saying something, but the Ministry of Youth and Sports is doing something else? Why is it the case that they said they are not sponsoring supporters to go to the World Cup, but they are giving NDC MPs two slots each, and they are giving their constituencies three slots through the DCEs?
“It is denting the image of Ghana. If you go to the American embassy today, over a thousand people have applied, but they have issued fewer than a hundred visas to some of them because the right thing has not been done, they are not properly screened, and when they do things like that, it dents the image of Ghana.”
The Deputy Minority Chief Whip maintained that the alleged arrangement contradicts government's public position and creates the impression that opportunities linked to the World Cup are being distributed on partisan grounds.