Dr. Frank Appiah Kusi, a Lecturer and Researcher in Sport Management and Marketing at the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), has urged the government to establish a Fans Support Fund to sustainably finance supporters’ participation in major international tournaments.
His call comes in the wake of the Sports Minister’s recent announcement that the government does not intend to state-sponsor fans for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Dr. Appiah Kusi explained that Ghanaian football fans have become accustomed to government-sponsored trips since the 2006 World Cup. However, he argued that the current economic climate makes such support unsustainable.
“It has become a tradition for fans to travel to support the national teams from 2006 to date, so the fans are expecting the government to continue,” he said. “But the financial sustainability is in question, good governance practices are in question.”
Dr. Appiah Kusi highlighted the escalating costs of attending major tournaments, noting that even the lowest-priced ticket for the 2026 World Cup is $100, not including travel and accommodation. “Is Ghana prepared to buy these tickets for fans?” he asked. “In my candid view, it’s not financially sustainable for government to lift fans to any international competitions.”
He drew comparisons with Europe, where governments do not directly sponsor supporters to attend tournaments. “In Europe, none of their governments lift their fans to the stadium, but they indirectly support them,” he observed.
To address this challenge, Dr. Appiah Kusi recommended the establishment of a Fans Support Fund. Such a fund, he suggested, could mobilize private sector contributions, corporate sponsorships, and structured fan membership schemes to enable Ghanaian supporters to attend major events without relying solely on state funding.
Dr. Appiah Kusi emphasized that a Fans Support Fund would promote transparency, financial discipline, and long-term sustainability, while preserving Ghana’s tradition of passionate fan support at global tournaments.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com
