National Sports Authority (NSA) Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah believes Ghana can one day host the FIFA World Cup, insisting the dream is achievable if the country begins long-term planning and considers a joint bid with neighbouring West African nations.
Speaking on Joy Prime, Ampofo Ankrah dismissed suggestions that Ghana is incapable of staging football’s biggest tournament, arguing that proper planning, infrastructure development and collaboration could make the ambition a reality.
Rather than viewing the World Cup as an impossible target, he urged Ghana to engage FIFA early and seek guidance on the requirements needed to host the tournament over the next decade or beyond.
“Let’s just ask them: ‘Charlie, we want to host the World Cup in Ghana in 20 years, in 10 years, in five years, or in 30 years. What do we need to start doing?'” Ampofo Ankrah said.
The NSA boss stressed that Ghana should begin laying the foundations immediately instead of dismissing the idea altogether.
“Let’s be humble and start the process. When people say, ‘Oh, Ghana can never host the World Cup,’ I disagree. We might be able to do it with our neighbours. We might be able to do it.”
Ampofo Ankrah suggested that a regional co-hosting model involving other West African countries could improve Ghana’s chances of securing the rights to host the expanded FIFA World Cup.
However, he acknowledged that significant challenges remain before such a vision can become a reality.
With the tournament now featuring 48 teams, FIFA’s hosting requirements demand world-class infrastructure, modern stadiums, efficient transport networks and high-quality accommodation facilities.
Ampofo Ankrah admitted that Ghana still has considerable work to do, pointing to the current condition of several major sporting facilities, including the Accra Sports Stadium, which he recently described as being in a poor state.
He reiterated the need for greater investment in sports infrastructure and called for increased accountability over how revenues generated from previous FIFA World Cup participations have been utilised.
The former broadcaster also advocated stronger partnerships with the private sector, arguing that sustainable corporate investment will be essential if Ghana hopes to modernise its sporting facilities and eventually position itself as a credible World Cup host.
For now, Ghana’s immediate priority remains upgrading its sporting infrastructure ahead of the 2027 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, with Ampofo Ankrah insisting that long-term planning must begin now if the country is to realise its World Cup hosting ambitions in the future.
