Accra, Ghana – The Minority in Parliament has leveled serious accusations against the government, alleging that travel slots for the upcoming FIFA World Cup are being unfairly allocated to National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament and party supporters. This comes amid concerns that the government has not provided Parliament with a comprehensive account of Ghana’s preparations for the international tournament.
Allegations of Slot Allocation
Speaking at a press briefing, the Deputy Majority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Tolon, Habib Iddrisu, claimed that each NDC MP has been granted two World Cup travel slots. Furthermore, he stated that every NDC constituency has been allocated three slots, purportedly to assist with visa application processes for the FIFA World Cup.
“Government is giving NDC MPs two slots and allocating three slots to every NDC constituency,” Mr. Iddrisu alleged. He further claimed that these beneficiaries are allegedly being sponsored to attend visa interviews at the United States Embassy, raising questions about the source of these funds.
“They have sponsored people to go to the embassy. How many people have they sponsored to go to the embassy? Visa fee we know is about 185 dollars per person. Where is that money coming from? So the minister and government need to answer and respond to some of these questions,” he demanded.
Lack of Transparency in Preparations
The MP also voiced criticism towards the Ministry of Youth and Sports, asserting that it has failed to brief Parliament and the public on the nation’s readiness for the Black Stars’ participation in the World Cup. He questioned the ministry’s silence on the matter.
“Why is the government and the Ministry for Youth and Sports running away from briefing Parliament or briefing Ghanaians on the preparation of the Black Stars towards the World Cup?” he asked.
Mr. Iddrisu highlighted what he described as contradictory messages from the government. He pointed out that while the President had previously stated that the state would not sponsor supporters to the tournament, alleged allocations were being made to supporters’ groups and party affiliates.
“Why is it the case that they said they are not sponsoring supporters to go to the World Cup? And why are they giving supporters’ unions slots? Why are they giving NDC MPs two slots? And why are they giving their constituencies… slots for people to be sponsored to the embassy?” he queried.
Concerns Over Visa Denials and Accountability
The alleged arrangement, according to Mr. Iddrisu, could potentially tarnish Ghana’s international reputation. He suggested that numerous visa applicants might have been denied entry due to insufficient screening processes related to these allocations.
He specifically demanded that the Minister of Youth and Sports appear before Parliament. The minister is expected to provide details regarding the number of match tickets procured for the tournament, the total amount of money collected through donations for Ghana’s participation, and a clear breakdown of how these funds have been utilized.
Comparison with Previous Administration
Drawing a contrast with the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration, Mr. Iddrisu recalled that Parliament received comprehensive briefings prior to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and the Africa Cup of Nations. He also noted that post-tournament expenditure reports were duly presented to lawmakers.
“When we were going to Qatar, the minister responsible for Youth and Sports briefed Parliament on the preparation, budget and everything… At the end of the tournament, they came back to Parliament and gave us the detailed expenditure,” he stated.
He urged the current government to emulate this level of transparency and accountability by informing Parliament about all expenditures and preparations concerning Ghana’s involvement in the upcoming FIFA World Cup. The Minority’s demands underscore a call for greater openness in governance, particularly concerning national events of significant public interest.
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