Ghana not fully ready for World Cup

Ghana may not have crossed the finish line of World Cup readiness just yet, but the government has drawn up an ambitious blueprint that goes well beyond the football pitch, positioning the tournament as a platform to project the country’s brand to a global audience of billions.

Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Iddie Adams made the candid admission in an interview with Channel One TV on Monday, March 30, acknowledging that preparations are still ongoing while assuring that the foundations for a comprehensive campaign are firmly in place.

“I can’t say we are 100% ready, but we have set systems in place that we will be ready when we have to be ready,” he said.

The Minister was emphatic that Ghana’s World Cup ambitions extend far beyond the ninety minutes the Black Stars will spend on the pitch in each match. The government’s planning encompasses a wide range of national engagement activities, branding, tourism promotion, and strategic initiatives designed to harness the tournament’s extraordinary global attention and translate it into lasting visibility for Ghana.

“The World Cup goes beyond the team… there are several activations you want to do because you want to also promote the country beyond just the 90 minutes they will play,” Adams explained.

To back that vision, the government has set aside a total of $30 million for Ghana’s World Cup campaign. Of that figure, approximately $16 million has been ringfenced specifically for the Black Stars’ participation, covering logistics including accommodation, training, feeding, player allowances, and bonuses. The remaining funds are directed at the broader national promotional activities the Minister described.

For a country that has qualified for the FIFA World Cup and carries the weight of passionate football expectations, the Minister’s message was one of measured confidence, an acknowledgment that there is work still to be done, paired with an assurance that when the tournament arrives, Ghana will be ready to make its presence felt both on and off the field.