Dr. Frank Appiah Kusi, a Lecturer and Researcher in Sport Management and Marketing at the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), has called on government to establish a Fans Support Fund to sustainably finance supporters’ participation in major international tournaments.
His comments follow the Sports Minister’s recent announcement that government does not intend to state-sponsor fans for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Speaking exclusively on SPORTSWORLD on ABC Sports, Dr. Appiah Kusi noted that while Ghanaian football fans have grown accustomed to government-sponsored trips since the 2006 World Cup, the current economic climate makes such support unsustainable.
“It has become a tradition for fans to be travelled to support the national teams from 2006 till date, so the fans are expecting government to continue,” he stated. “But the financial sustainability is in question, good governance practices are in question.”
He further highlighted the rising cost of attending major tournaments, pointing out that even the lowest-priced ticket for the 2026 World Cup costs $100, not including travel and accommodation.
“Is Ghana prepared to buy these tickets for fans?” he questioned. “In my candid view, it’s not financially sustainable for government to lift fans to any international competitions.”
Dr. Appiah Kusi also compared Ghana’s situation to 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 explained.
To address the long-term challenge, he recommended establishing a Fans Support Fund, a mechanism that will mobilize private sector contributions, corporate sponsorships, and structured fan membership schemes to ensure supporters can attend major events without relying solely on the state.
Dr. Appiah Kusi emphasized that such a fund would promote transparency, financial discipline, and sustainability, while preserving the tradition of passionate Ghanaian fan presence at global tournaments.
