Accra: Ehalakasa, Ghana's spoken word collective, is appealing to the government to support three of its representatives with flight tickets to represent the country in the 2026 World Poetry Slam Championship in Durban, South Africa. Yibor Kojo Yibor, Head of the Ehalakasa Team, highlighted in a press release that the three representatives include the National Slam Champion, the country's Slam Master and Ambassador, and the 2025 National SheShe Slam Champion.
According to Ghana News Agency, Ehalakasa qualified to represent Ghana at the World Poetry Slam Championship following its semi-final appearance in Brazil in 2023, a fifth-place finish in Togo in 2024, and its victory at the world championship in Mexico in 2025. The release emphasized the need for institutional backing for individuals who qualify to represent Ghana in recognized international competitions, stressing that the current request is modest, seeking funding for only three return flight tickets.
The statement pointed out that while football receives significant public funding, representatives in other fields often rely on personal fundraising and sponsorship. It underscored that national representation spans beyond football, encompassing disciplines such as arts, science, culture, technology, and innovation.
Ehalakasa proposed the establishment of a National Representatives of All Fields Fund to support individuals, groups, and organizations officially selected to represent Ghana at recognized international events outside football. They suggested that access to this fund should be based on specific criteria, including official qualification, a proven track record, and a budget focused on essential needs.
The appeal follows President John Dramani Mahama's remark on the reported cost of nearly US$11,000 per supporter to send fans to the ongoing FIFA World Cup, calling it an unjustifiable use of public funds. Ehalakasa expressed support for the President's stance on fiscal discipline but advocated that the same principle be applied to all Ghanaians representing the country internationally.
The release questioned why other Ghanaians representing the nation on global stages do not receive similar support as footballers do. It called upon the President, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Parliament, corporate Ghana, and the public to support Ghanaian representatives across fields including music, comedy, dance, theatre, filmmaking, science, robotics, fashion, debating, visual arts, and para-sports.
Ehalakasa stated that it has worked diligently to elevate Ghana on the global spoken word and poetry stage, requesting support for three flight tickets as part of their national duty. Founded in 2007, Ehalakasa is dedicated to promoting performance poetry, literary arts, and creative expression through various platforms, nurturing spoken word artists in Ghana and representing the country internationally.