Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif has clarified that he played no role in the appointment of Otto Addo as Ghana’s head coach, emphasizing that the decision was made solely by the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
Addo returned to the position in March 2024, signing a three-year deal with the GFA that includes an option for an additional two years. He took over from Chris Hughton, who was dismissed following Ghana’s disappointing exit from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
During a session with the Parliamentary Select Committee, Ussif stated, “I had no role in Otto Addo’s selection as Black Stars coach. When it comes to national team appointments, it is the role of the GFA. They have their technical directorate for that. The Ministry has no role.”
He noted that while it would have been appropriate for the GFA to consult him, they opted to make the decision independently. Ussif urged the GFA to provide Addo with more time to enhance the team’s performance, drawing a comparison with Senegal’s coach, who has had six years to build a cohesive unit.
“If I had my way, we would give our coaches more time. If you look at Senegal, their coach has had six years. That allows him time to understand the team and the players to get results. I believe strongly that if we do that and allow coaches to understand our philosophy and materials, there will be results,” Ussif stated.
The pressure on Addo has increased following a winless streak in September’s 2025 AFCON qualifiers, where the Black Stars experienced a 1-0 defeat to Angola and a 1-1 draw against Niger.
Currently, Ghana sits third in Group F with just one point, while Angola leads with six points and Sudan is in second with three points.
