The Sports Ministry was not responsible for engaging dancehall artiste Shatta Wale for activities connected to Ghana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign, according to Wonder Mandel, Special Aide to the Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams.
Mandel said the engagement of artistes and celebrities was handled by the World Cup Fundraising, Promotions and Events Committee, which was chaired by the Deputy Finance Minister.
Speaking on Starr Showbiz with Feeling Daddy on Starr 103.5FM on Saturday, August 29, 2026, Mandel explained that the Sports Ministry did not directly engage artistes for the World Cup fundraising activities.
He said the 2026 World Cup preparations were deliberately structured to assign specific responsibilities to different committees, with the fundraising, promotions and events committee tasked with mobilising resources and engaging celebrities to promote fundraising activities.
“The Sports [Ministry] doesn’t or didn’t engage the artistes. The engagement was not with us,” Mandel said.
He explained that the committee organised a raffle as part of efforts to raise funds for Ghana’s participation in the tournament and engaged celebrities and artistes to help promote it.
READ: World Cup Fundraising Committee must clarify Shatta Wale’s GH¢5m claim – Wonder Mandel
According to him, Shatta Wale was among those contacted in connection with the fundraising activities, but any agreement concerning his engagement and payment was made through the fundraising committee rather than the Sports Ministry.
Mandel said the distinction was important because public perception had created the impression that all aspects of Ghana’s World Cup preparations fell under the Sports Ministry.
“This is not something in our domain or in the Sports Ministry’s domain,” he stressed.
He said the fundraising committee was led by the Deputy Finance Minister and that several activities relating to donations, sponsorship and fundraising were therefore handled through the Finance Ministry.
Mandel consequently directed attention to the fundraising committee for clarification on the reported GH¢5 million owed to Shatta Wale.
He said the committee would be best placed to explain the terms of the agreement and establish whether any amount remains outstanding.
“If there is any explanation or any conclusion, I think we need to get in touch with the fundraising committee and speak to them so that we can understand what the contract details spell out and if truly someone is owed or not,” he said.
His comments follow Shatta Wale’s recent disclosure of an alleged GH¢5 million outstanding payment connected to his involvement in the World Cup campaign.
Mandel reiterated that Shatta Wale himself had identified the Deputy Finance Minister as the person who contacted him, rather than the Sports Ministry.
He maintained that the 2026 World Cup preparations were structured with clearly defined roles for the various committees and government institutions involved.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
