Former Sports Minister Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye has called for a fair and transparent process in selecting Ghanaian supporters to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup, arguing that opportunities should be widened beyond a familiar few.
According to him, repeatedly selecting the same individuals who have attended past World Cups defeats the purpose of national inclusion. He stressed that millions of Ghanaians have never had the chance to experience the global football spectacle and deserve a fair shot.
The former minister noted that denying others such opportunities limits exposure and experience, which are often cited as reasons for selecting certain fans. He cautioned that restricting access based on past participation could amount to discrimination.
Vanderpuye proposed that any selection method adopted—whether a lottery or another transparent mechanism—must be open, fair, and accessible to all qualified Ghanaians. He emphasized that such an approach would build public trust and ensure equal opportunity as Ghana prepares for the 2026 World Cup.
“If somebody has been to the World Cup before, why should we send the same person again? There are other Ghanaians, thousands and millions of other Ghanaians who have never had the opportunity, so let’s create an opportunity where it will not be the same group of people always going.” said the former minister in an interview with Citi Sports.
“If you don’t give the opportunities to other people, how will they get the experience we are talking about? So just give the opportunities to others.” I wouldn’t want to go by that because when you do that, then you are setting discrimination into it.
“I think people should be given the opportunity to go, and if it is going to be a lottery or any other thing, we should do it so that it will be fair and transparent for everyone,” he concluded.
