In response to Ghana’s recent football disappointments, President Nana Akufo-Addo underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive, long-term strategy to address the challenges facing the sport in the country.
The President expressed concerns over the Black Stars’ recent underwhelming performance at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire, where the team suffered an early exit from the tournament.
Reflecting on the disappointment, Akufo-Addo emphasized the importance of recognizing the aspirations of both players and technical staff to elevate Ghanaian football to greater heights.
“The recent AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire was probably the nadir of the performance of the Black Stars, and has left the nation saddened. However, I am quite certain that the young men and the technical handlers would, themselves, have wanted to make our nation proud, and I believe that the captain, Andre Dede Ayew, meant every word when he rendered heartfelt apologies on behalf of his team-mates to all Ghanaians for the team’s early exit,” he said.
Delivering his penultimate State of the Nation Address in Parliament, President Akufo-Addo highlighted his intention to unveil a ‘Presidential Policy on Football’ aimed at rejuvenating the sport from grassroots levels.
The policy will focus on scouting, grooming, and developing talent at district levels, fostering collaboration between the Ministry of Education’s school sports department, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
“I believe it is time for us to take a long-term, far-sighted approach to correct what has gone wrong. It is time to return to scouting, grooming and developing talent at the district grassroots level under a Presidential Policy on Football that I intend to unveil,” he continued.
Acknowledging the foundational role of infrastructure, Akufo-Addo cited the construction of over 150 astro turf pitches throughout the country as a cornerstone for talent development.
He stressed the importance of merit-based progression from junior to senior teams, signaling a shift towards a more competitive and transparent football ecosystem.
“The school sports department of the Ministry of Education will work hand in hand with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, in collaboration and synergy with the Ghana Football Association (GFA), to build district, regional and national juvenile teams for both boys and girls.”
“The more than one hundred and fifty (150) astro turf pitches constructed throughout the country, under this administration, provide the foundational facilities to make a start, as we strive to provide more of them. We should see a steady progression of talent up the ladder from the junior juvenile teams to the senior sides based on merit, and nothing else.”
While citing recent successes such as the Black Satellites’ victory in the U-20 AFCON in Mauritania in 2021 and the Black Princesses’ triumph in the WAFU B Girls’ Cup in Kumasi in June 2023, the President emphasized the need for sustained progress and development to reclaim Ghana’s prominence in African football.
