Records presented to Ghana’s Parliament show that Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Okraku received a US$50,000 honorarium during the country’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The payment emerged as lawmakers examined expenditure connected to Ghana’s campaign at the tournament, placing several allowances and payments to officials and support personnel under scrutiny.
Okraku is the president of the GFA and has held the position since his election in October 2019. He also serves as the Confederation of African Football’s second vice-president.
Parliament examines World Cup expenditure
The disclosure was made during parliamentary discussions over the finances of Ghana’s participation in the tournament.
Members of Parliament sought explanations for payments made to various officials involved in the Black Stars’ World Cup campaign. The figures included honoraria and other allowances allocated to management, officials and support personnel.
The revelations form part of wider scrutiny of the funds used for Ghana’s World Cup preparations and participation.
Earlier in the year, Sports Minister Kofi Iddie Adams told Parliament that the GFA had proposed a budget of about US$13.7 million for the 2026 tournament.
That proposed budget covered preparations, the group stage and possible progression through the knockout rounds. An estimated US$310,000 was specifically earmarked for honoraria for management, officials and support staff.
Okraku’s role during the World Cup
Okraku was involved in Ghana’s World Cup administration and was part of the broader oversight structure surrounding the national team’s campaign.
His position as GFA president placed him among the senior figures responsible for the country’s football administration.
The GFA’s own post-tournament statement confirmed that Ghana’s World Cup campaign ended in the Round of 32. Okraku thanked the government, sponsors, players, technical team and supporters for their contributions to the tournament.
The disclosure of his honorarium has now added another financial detail to the parliamentary review of the campaign.
Other payments also questioned
Okraku’s reported US$50,000 payment was not the only expenditure discussed during the parliamentary review.
Records also showed payments to other officials and support personnel involved with the Black Stars.
According to reports from the parliamentary proceedings, GFA General Secretary Prosper Harrison Addo received US$20,000, while a designated purse holder was paid US$10,000.
Questions were also raised about payments made to members of the team’s support staff, including a caterer, chef and security officer.
The Sports Ministry has defended the payments by comparing them with expenditure during Ghana’s previous World Cup campaign, arguing that some of the amounts paid in 2026 were lower than those recorded in 2022.
Why the payments are attracting attention
The issue has attracted attention because Ghana’s World Cup campaign involved public funding.
The government had allocated substantial resources toward preparations and participation, making transparency around payments to officials an important part of Parliament’s review.
The parliamentary discussions are therefore focused not only on individual payments but also on the broader management of funds provided for the national team’s participation.
The disclosure does not by itself establish that the payment was improper. Rather, the US$50,000 figure is among the expenditures lawmakers are examining as they seek greater clarity over the tournament’s financial arrangements.
Ghana’s World Cup campaign
Ghana entered the 2026 World Cup after qualifying for the tournament and was drawn into a group featuring Panama, England and Croatia.
The Black Stars progressed to the Round of 32 before their campaign came to an end. In his post-tournament message, Okraku described the team’s run as an experience from which Ghana football could learn and thanked the various stakeholders who supported the team.
The GFA has since said it intends to use lessons from the tournament as part of efforts to strengthen the national team.
Parliamentary scrutiny continues
The revelation surrounding Okraku’s honorarium comes amid broader questions about how Ghana’s World Cup budget was spent.
The Sports Ministry had previously outlined a multi-million-dollar spending plan, including money for preparations, player and technical staff-related expenses, match bonuses and other tournament costs.
As Parliament continues examining the records, further details about payments made during Ghana’s 2026 World Cup campaign could emerge.
For now, the US$50,000 honorarium reportedly paid to Kurt Okraku is one of the figures that has drawn attention as lawmakers review the financial records surrounding the Black Stars’ participation in the tournament.
