President Mahama has been misled on Black Stars budget – Oduro Sarfo responds

An Executive Council member of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Nana Oduro Sarfo, has responded to President John Dramani Mahama's statement regarding the accountability of the national teams, especially the Black Stars' budget, insisting that the "President has been misled."

In his response, Oduro Sarfo clarified that the responsibility for the Black Stars' budget accountability lies with the Ministry of Sports, not the GFA.

During his State of the Nation Address on Thursday, February 27, 2025, President Mahama called for full transparency regarding government spending on national teams, urging the Ministry of Sports to hold the GFA accountable, particularly for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

“There will be no secrecy about how much the government spends on the national teams. The budgets presented by the FA and other sports associations must be made public,” President Mahama emphasized. “After all, it is taxpayers' money funding these activities,” he added, reaffirming his commitment to financial accountability.

However, in an interview with Connect 97.1 FM, Oduro Sarfo stated: “The President has been misled in making that statement. The GFA does not spend on the Black Stars. The FA submits the budget for approval, and once approved, the Ministry handles all financial matters.”

In addition to financial transparency, President Mahama outlined his government's vision for advancing sports development in Ghana, announcing plans to prioritize the construction and refurbishment of community recreational facilities to boost grassroots sports participation.