The Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Iddie Adams, has set a clear mandate for Ghana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign, saying the Black Stars must deliver a performance that signals progress, discipline and credibility.

With the Black Stars’ preparation for the global tournament already taking off with losses against Austria and Germany in trial matches, the minister has pledged full backing for the technical team, working closely with the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to ensure optimal preparation for the global showpiece.

He revealed that recent high-profile friendlies against Austria and Germany in Vienna and Stuttgart, respectively, were strategically selected to simulate the calibre and style of opposition Ghana will face in the group stage.

“We deliberately chose those matches,” Mr Adams told the Graphic Sports. “They were meant to expose the team to tough opposition and mirror what we expect against teams like England and Panama.”

Yet, as preparations intensify, the possible return of veteran forward André Ayew to the team after a two-year exile continues to dominate public discourse.

Mr Adams, careful not to overstep his mandate, struck a politically measured tone, while subtly signalling openness to the idea. While carefully deferring to the authority of the yet-to-be-appointed coach, Mr Adams hinted he would not oppose the veteran’s return.

“Fortunately, I’m the minister. Unfortunately, I’m not the coach,” he said. “The coach has the final decision. If they include him, why not? I won’t be surprised.”

The comment is likely to fuel an already divisive debate over whether experience or transition should define Ghana’s World Cup squad.

One year into office, the minister has sought to redefine what success looks like under his leadership.

While overseeing Ghana’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup stands as a significant milestone, especially after the country’s shock failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, he insists his broader vision goes deeper, with success being defined beyond the scoreboard.

“There were a lot of people who gave up on the Black Stars,” he admitted. “But through a certain strategic pull-up, we played six matches, won five and drew one, and that made qualification possible.”

With a reformist approach that extends to team management structures, Mr Adams highlighted an overhauled incentive model for the Black Stars’ management committee, for example, shifting away from match-by-match bonuses to performance-based rewards tied to qualification targets.

“We made it clear from the beginning that we are not paying winning bonuses as before,” he said. “The focus is on qualifying. Once that is achieved, there is a reward. They accepted it, and we have worked with that system.”

For the minister, sport is not merely about winning matches but about building systems that reflect discipline, accountability and long-term value. He believes football, in particular, should promote competition, patience and resilience — qualities he sees as essential to national development.