Accra: Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, has made a bold declaration regarding Ghana's status in the world of football, arguing that the nation is no longer the football powerhouse it once was. He suggests that Ghana is clinging to its past achievements while neglecting necessary steps for future success.
According to Ghana Web, Ampofo Ankrah expressed these views during an interview with UTV, urging stakeholders to confront the current realities of Ghanaian football rather than rely on historical accolades. He emphasized that the nation's decline is partly due to poor infrastructure maintenance and the lack of a comprehensive national sports development policy.
Ampofo Ankrah highlighted the importance of both constructing new facilities and maintaining existing ones, referencing President John Dramani Mahama's commitment to building additional stadia. He criticized the absence of a consistent policy that transcends political changes, which has contributed to the neglect of sports facilities over the years.
He remarked that Ghana's reputation as a football leader effectively ended after the country's fourth Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) victory in 1982. The NSA chief attributed subsequent struggles to complacency and a false sense of security about the nation's football prowess.
Ampofo Ankrah used Cape Verde as an example of a nation that has advanced through strategic planning and investment, highlighting the narrowing gap between Ghana and Cape Verde since their last significant encounter in 2006.
He concluded by calling on Ghana to abandon its reliance on historical successes and to focus on rebuilding through planning, investment, and hard work. Ampofo Ankrah insisted that if Ghana hopes to regain its former glory, it must commit to a future-oriented approach to football development.