Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Iddie Adams says efforts to bridge the trust gap between Ghanaians and the Ghana national football team are ongoing, stressing that transparency is key to restoring confidence in the team.

Speaking in an interview with GhanaWeb Sports' Joel Eshun, the Minister admitted that although some progress has been made, the government has not yet fully achieved its goal of ensuring complete openness in the management of sports funds.

“It’s work in progress. I wouldn’t say we have reached there yet, but the aim is to get to a point where every action that commits public funds is known by the public,” he stated.

President Mahama has made my work easier - Kofi Adams

Kofi Adams explained that making financial information public will eliminate doubts and speculation, particularly regarding budgets and player entitlements.

According to him, discussions around the national team’s budget, especially for major tournaments like the World Cup, should not be hidden from Ghanaians since the funds involved belong to the people.

“It is public money. They need to know how it is being spent. If they disagree, then we can have a conversation around it,” he said.

He revealed that during a recent appearance before Parliament, some concerns were raised about whether certain financial details should be disclosed. However, he insisted that transparency must take precedence.

The Minister noted that lack of openness often creates confusion and mistrust, with players sometimes misinformed about their entitlements.

“When the conversation is not public, it creates tension and misunderstanding. But when everything is out there, nobody can be deceived,” he explained.

Kofi Adams emphasised that transparency is the foundation for rebuilding trust, which in turn will restore the love Ghanaians have for the national team.

“Trust brings love, and transparency brings trust. When people see that things are being done right, the love will come naturally. You don’t need to spend money on adverts,” he added.

The Minister believes that rebuilding confidence off the pitch will be crucial to improving performances on it, as the government continues to engage stakeholders on the way forward for Ghana football.



PAH/MA

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