President John Dramani Mahama on Saturday presented $50,000.00 cheque each to Ghana’s Premier League Champions Bibiani Gold Stars and MTN FA Cup holders Asante Kotoko at the Presidency in Accra.
The presentation is part of the Government’s assistance to the two teams in their efforts to win the 2025-2026 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League and Confederations Cup.
The President said the presentation was to help defray some of the cost of the air tickets and accommodation that the teams had to meet when they travel outside Ghana.
Recounting some of Ghana’s past glorious days of soccer, the President hailed the outstanding performances of Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak on the continental stage in the 1960s and 70s.
He appealed to the players to bring back the past glory of Ghana’s soccer.
The President said it gives him a sense of pride when people recognise that Ghana has been a strong sporting nation.
“And so as you go into Africa, I want to encourage you to do us proud. We will stand by you. We will help you,” he said.
“We’ve agreed that with all the savings we are making in terms of expenditure, we are cutting down expenditure. We’ve cut down the size of government. We are avoiding the waste of our national resources. It frees up more resources for us to invest in the important things. And sports is one of them.”
He said the 2026 budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government, which would be presented by the Finance Minister to Parliament in November, would cater for the construction of seven brand new stadiums.
“We want every region to have a stadium that is fit for purpose. So that we can improve the playing conditions and make our football more competitive,” he said.
He said aside from that, as a token, at the start of the Premier League for the 2025-2026, they managed to give every club GH₵1 million as a start.
“I’m sure the fund will grow. We’re creating a Sports Development Fund. And we’re encouraging corporate businesses and all others, including government,” he said.
“The government will also put some money into it. So that we can support you when you go into African competitions and even when you’re playing locally.”
The President told the players that millions of Ghanaians, especially young aspiring footballers, were going to be following their progress.
“Our expectations are high. And you carry the expectations of all Ghanaians on your shoulders. The good thing about sports, and especially football, is that it unites us.”
He said it was the sports and the football that bring them all together, saying “And so, if we put money into sports and into football, we’re putting money into building a united country. And that is not resources that have been wasted”.
He said that when the nation has a strong domestic league, it is reflected in its international assignments, especially with the Black Stars.
This, the President said, was because the local players were the primary source of the Black Stars.
“So if we support the domestic league, and it’s more competitive, it will breed more talent. And the Black Stars will benefit from those talents and be able to also represent Ghana abroad.”
He urged the players to stay focused, keep their eyes on the goal, declaring that “football is about goals”.
“You can’t say, oh, they played well, but they lost. I mean, it doesn’t make sense. It’s about goals. They played very well, but we couldn’t score. We don’t want to hear that,” he said.
“Football is about goals. If you don’t play a beautiful game and score two or three goals, that is what we want. So it’s not about the colour of the game, but it’s the goals that we are able to score. So keep focused, keep your eyes on the goalposts. The ball must go in there.”
President Mahama advised the players to stay disciplined, united, and believe in themselves, because the whole of Ghana was going to be behind them.
Present at the event were Mr Kofi Eddie Adams, Minister of Sports and Recreation, Mr Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, President, Ghana Football Association and Mr Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, Director-General, National Sports Authority.
Also in attendance were the management and players of Asante Kotoko Football Club.
The Management of Bibiani Gold Stars were present at the event; however, the players were absent because their scheduled debut against the Algerian side JS Kabylie in the preliminary round on the same Saturday.
