The Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, has called on Ghanaians to fully support the Black Stars as the team prepares for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Speaking in Parliament, the minister said preparations for the tournament were progressing well through a joint strategy by the government and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to ensure the team performs successfully.
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He appealed to Ghanaians to support the Black Stars financially by donating through the Mobile Money short code *899# on all mobile networks to help motivate the team during the tournament.
Mr Ussif assured the public that all funds received for the World Cup campaign would be used responsibly and transparently.
He disclosed that Ghana is guaranteed $9 million for participating in the World Cup. The prize money would increase to $13 million if the Black Stars reach the Round of 16, $17 million if they qualify for the quarter-finals, up to $27 million for reaching the semi-finals, and $45 million if they win the tournament.
The minister also revealed that the technical team planned to strengthen the squad by inviting qualified Ghanaian players from around the world to improve the team’s chances of success.
He explained that the tournament budget covers players’ appearance fees, bonuses, per diems, flights, medical support, logistics and hospitality.
Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu expressed confidence in the Black Stars’ ability to perform well in Qatar and praised corporate organisations, including MTN and GOIL, for supporting the national team.
He urged the government to assist Ghanaian supporters travelling to Qatar to promote the country’s culture and encourage the players.
Mr Iddrisu also called on the Sports Minister to provide Parliament with a detailed account of how the $1.5 million FIFA qualification bonus was spent, following reports that about $800,000 was used to organise international friendly matches.
Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu also expressed optimism about the team’s chances, stating that football success depends on tactical discipline and teamwork rather than individual names. He noted that the positive atmosphere in the Black Stars camp was a good sign ahead of the tournament.
