The Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, has asked the Ministry of Sports and Recreation to provide specific legal reasons if any part of his Right to Information (RTI) request concerning tickets for Ghana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Panama cannot be disclosed.

In his request, Mr Assafuah stated that where certain information falls under the exemptions in the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), the Ministry must identify the exact legal provision supporting the refusal.

He is also asking the Ministry to release all remaining portions of the requested information that can lawfully be made public.

The request, dated October 22, 2026, seeks detailed information on tickets acquired or made available to the Ministry or any government agency for Ghana’s opening World Cup match against Panama.

Seven areas of information requested

Mr Assafuah is seeking the total number of tickets procured for the match and a breakdown showing how they were distributed among individuals, institutions, organisations and other beneficiary groups.

He also wants the names of those who received the tickets, including the number allocated to each beneficiary. Where available and legally disclosable, he has requested their telephone numbers and email addresses.

Other information requested includes the criteria and procedures used to select beneficiaries, the number of tickets left undistributed or returned, and records explaining the status of those tickets.

The MP is further demanding supporting documents such as allocation schedules, distribution registers, official correspondence, receipts and acknowledgements.

He has requested that the information be provided electronically, preferably in searchable PDF or spreadsheet format.

Ministry previously disclosed ticket figures

The request comes after Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams told Parliament’s Select Committee on Youth and Sports in September that the Ministry spent approximately US$1.26 million to procure 2,922 tickets for Ghana’s three group-stage matches.

The figures presented by the Minister showed that 948 tickets were procured for the match against Panama, 1,000 for the England fixture and 974 for the Croatia encounter.

The Minister also outlined categories of intended beneficiaries, including supporters’ groups, Ghanaians in the diaspora, diplomatic missions, government officials and selected football stakeholders.

Mr Assafuah’s latest request seeks a more detailed account of how the tickets for the Panama match were actually allocated and distributed.

Focus on transparency and accountability

The MP’s request places emphasis on the Ministry’s obligation to explain any decision to withhold information under the RTI law while providing the portions that are not legally exempt.

The Ministry of Sports and Recreation has an established RTI procedure for handling information requests, including notifying applicants when access is granted in full or in part and giving reasons where information is withheld.

The request is expected to provide further clarity on the distribution of government-procured tickets for Ghana’s World Cup campaign.

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