A Football Legacy in Ruins: When Will Ghana Wake Up

 

Ghana’s football glory, once a source of immense national pride, is now a painful reminder of a bygone era. Once standing at the pinnacle of African football, Ghana’s Black Stars, renowned for their discipline and determination, have faded into mediocrity. Our football legacy, which once inspired generations, has been reduced to a shadow of its former self. Today, we look back not only in sorrow but in frustration at what could have been.

 

 The Glory Days: When Ghana Ruled African Football

 

Ghana’s football dominance began in the 1960s and spanned decades, marking the nation as a force to be reckoned with. The Black Stars, famed for their discipline and teamwork, won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) four times—1963, 1965, 1978, and 1982. These victories established Ghana as a beacon of excellence in African football, inspiring pride across the nation.

 

Even in more recent times, Ghana’s performances at the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cups brought hope. Reaching the Round of 16 in 2006 and narrowly missing the semifinals in 2010, the Black Stars embodied the potential of African football on the global stage. The talent of players like Stephen Appiah, Michael Essien, Asamoah Gyan, and Sulley Muntari became synonymous with national pride. Ghana’s youth teams also thrived, with the Black Satellites winning the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2009.

 

These were not just victories on the pitch; they were victories for the soul of the nation. Ghanaian football symbolized unity, discipline, and ambition. But today, that dream has crumbled.

 

 The Decline: The Decay of Ghana Football

 

How did we, a footballing giant, fall into such disrepair? The cracks in Ghana football started to show in the late 2000s, but the full collapse became evident in the 2010s. From AFCON tournaments to World Cup qualifiers, Ghana’s once-mighty football team has been in a steady decline.

 

The 2014 World Cup in Brazil is a turning point we can’t forget. Scandals rocked the national team, with players refusing to play until they were paid their bonuses. This embarrassing episode was a clear sign that leadership and organization were failing at the core of Ghana football.

 

Since then, our national team’s performance has been nothing short of disgraceful. Once a team feared across the continent, the Black Stars have now become synonymous with inconsistency. In the 2021 AFCON, Ghana failed to make it past the group stage, a shocking outcome for a team that once dominated the tournament. The decline continued with the 2022 World Cup, where we exited early after a lackluster performance under Coach Otto Addo, who resigned immediately after the tournament. Inexplicably, he was rehired—an astonishing decision that reflects the incompetence plaguing Ghanaian football.

 

 The GFA and Ministry of Youth and Sports: The Cradle of Rot

 

The Ghana Football Association (GFA), led by President Edwin Simeon-Okraku, has overseen a spectacular collapse of Ghana’s football structure. From grassroots development to top-tier management, the GFA has mismanaged every aspect of the game. Vice President Mark Addo has been equally complicit in this failure. Despite the mounting evidence of incompetence, they remain in power, watching as Ghana’s football heritage crumbles.

 

Perhaps most glaring is the inexplicable decision to retain a coach who failed us on the global stage. The recycling of failure has become a tragic hallmark of the GFA’s approach, while the Ministry of Youth and Sports has stood by, complicit in the decay. The lack of accountability is staggering. As stadiums fall into disrepair and youth development programs languish, it is clear that both the GFA and the Ministry are responsible for this national disaster.

 

For the first time in decades, Ghana risks not qualifying for AFCON 2025. We currently sit third in our AFCON qualifiers group, trailing teams like Sudan—teams we once beat effortlessly. If we fail to qualify, it will be the first time in over 20 years that Ghana misses this major tournament.

 

 Silence from Legends and Media: A Deafening Void

 

As Ghanaian football continues its freefall, the silence from those who should be demanding change is striking. Football legends like Abedi Pele, Asamoah Gyan, and others, who once carried the nation’s hopes, have been conspicuously absent in the conversation. These are the figures who know what it takes to succeed on the global stage, yet their voices are missing when the country needs them most.

 

The media, too, bears responsibility for this silence. Investigative journalism, once a cornerstone of holding power to account, seems to have withered. Ghana’s sports journalists appear more interested in reporting on player transfers and match results than in digging deep into the systemic issues plaguing the sport. The lack of scrutiny has allowed the rot within the GFA and the Ministry of Youth and Sports to continue unchecked.

 

 A Call to Action: Before It’s Too Late

 

This crisis is not just about football; it’s about our national identity and pride. Ghana football is in freefall, and if we don’t act now, there will soon be nothing left to save. The GFA needs a complete overhaul. We cannot afford to continue recycling failure. The Ministry of Youth and Sports must take an active role in enforcing the reforms necessary to restore Ghana’s footballing glory.

 

But the burden does not lie solely with these institutions. Our football legends must step forward and fight for the sport that once made Ghana a household name in world football. The media, too, must stop standing on the sidelines and demand accountability from those responsible for this decline.

 

If Ghana football continues on its current path, we will be nothing more than a forgotten chapter in the history of African football. It’s time to wake up. It’s time to act.

Source: Portia Nana Akua Pinamang.