Ghana’s Sports and Recreation Minister, Kofi Adams says the country must seize the 2026 FIFA World Cup as a global stage to demonstrate its readiness to host football’s biggest tournament in the future.
Speaking after inaugurating an 11-member Inter-Ministerial Oversight Committee at the Jubilee House, Adams described the upcoming World Cup as an opportunity for Ghana to show organisational strength, unity, and ambition both on and off the pitch.
The minister, who has already floated the idea of a joint West African bid with Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire, urged officials to approach the tournament as a national exhibition of Ghana’s capabilities.
“Experiences of the past, both positive and negative, will guide us into the future,” he said. “We must ensure that we do not just go to kick the ball, but that by the end of the process, Ghana emerges as one of the biggest winners.”
He added that Ghana’s performance in North America could significantly influence how seriously FIFA considers any future hosting bid.
The newly inaugurated oversight committee brings together high-profile figures, including football legend Abedi Pele, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Deputy Chief of Staff Stan Dogbe, GFA President Kurt Okraku, and Adams himself. Their task is to coordinate Ghana’s preparations and craft a unified strategy for the expanded tournament.
Government has earmarked 150 million Ghana cedis for the World Cup campaign. The Black Stars, who qualified convincingly, are set to make their fifth appearance at the global finals when they feature in the USA, Canada and Mexico next year.
Adams said the team’s mission is clear: “We will go there and make Ghana and Africa proud, so that when we bid to host in the future, we will be seriously considered.”
