Ghana’s Minister for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, has emphasized that the future of Ghana football hinges not just on infrastructure but also on the Ghana Football Association’s (GFA) commitment to transparency and fairness.
As the nation prepares for the Black Stars’ first 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Angola in nine days, concerns about the poor maintenance of sports facilities have come to the forefront. The upcoming match is scheduled to take place at the Baba Yara Stadium, but reports from Kumasi suggest that CAF is calling for an urgent assessment of the pitch, raising the possibility of relocating the match outside Ghana.
Speaking at the 30th Ghana Football Ordinary Congress, Ussif highlighted the dual responsibility of the GFA to uphold standards both on and off the pitch.
“I have directed the NSA to liaise with the GFA to obtain a license from CAF for the various sports stadia [in Tarkwa and Legon], which have been upgraded,” Ussif stated. “The future of Ghana football does not rely solely on infrastructure; the FA should also focus on transparency, fairness, and development.”
The Minister’s comments underscore the critical balance between physical infrastructure and ethical governance in the ongoing development of Ghanaian football.