The Ghana Football Association (GFA) allocated $408,800 for per diem expenses for the Black Stars' 28-day stay at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, according to budget documents submitted to the Ministry of Sports and Recreation.

Additionally, the GFA budgeted $5.4 million for appearance fees and other questionable costs.

The breakdown of the per diem budget was as follows:

- Players (26 members) – $150 per day for 28 days, totaling $109,200
- Technical Team (22 members) – $150 per day for 28 days, totaling $92,400
- Officials (37 members) – $200 per day for 28 days, totaling $207,200

Other Budget Discrepancies

While the budget accounts for essential expenses like accommodation and meals, a closer inspection reveals several questionable allocations.

A key discrepancy involves the budget for player flight tickets. Despite some Black Stars players already being in Qatar prior to the tournament, the document lists a $300,000 charter flight cost for team transportation. It remains unclear why airfare expenses were accounted for all players when some had already arrived for the pre-tournament camp.

Also, honorariums were allocated to officials, including:

- Head of Delegation – $20,000
- General Secretary – $15,000
- Administrator – $15,000
- COVID Officer – $20,000
- National Teams Department Representative – $10,000

With a total tournament budget of $14.18 million, these revelations raise concerns about the financial accountability and transparency of the GFA’s spending, particularly during World Cup events.

As debates around sports financing and national team expenses persist, these figures are likely to attract increased scrutiny over how taxpayer funds are being managed by the Ghana Football Association.