Government must probe into GFA’s Black Stars World Cup spending, says Nana Fitz
Veteran football administrator Nana Fitzgerald Barkers Woode, popularly known as Nana Fitz, has called on the Government of Ghana to launch an investigation into the Ghana Football Association’s (GFA) expenditure during the Black Stars’ participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Nana Fitz believes that while FIFA regulations prohibit government interference in football administration, they should not prevent the GFA from accounting for public funds used to support the national teams.
Speaking in an interview with the Graphic Sports, the former owner and bankroller of Cornerstones argued that the national teams are heavily financed through taxpayers’ money, making transparency and accountability a necessity.
"The government should immediately call on the GFA to account for every amount spent on the World Cup, including previous tournaments," he said.
The veteran administrator questioned whether FIFA was fully aware of the level of government funding involved in Ghanaian football, insisting that the world football governing body’s rules should not be used as a reason to prevent public scrutiny of football administrators.
According to Nana Fitz, Ghana’s government plays a major role in supporting the Black Stars during international competitions, with state officials often leading delegations to major tournaments.
He argued that such involvement should give the state the right to demand explanations on how funds are utilised.
"Whenever the national team travels for international competitions, it is a government representative who leads the delegation. If government is involved at that level and provides the funding, why should it not demand accountability for how the money is spent?" he asked.
The Black Stars made history at the 2026 FIFA World Cup by reaching the knockout stage for the first time since their famous quarter-final appearance in 2010.
However, Ghana’s campaign came to an end after a narrow 1-0 defeat to Colombia in the Round of 32.
Following their World Cup outing, the Black Stars will shift focus to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, which begin in September.