President John Dramani Mahama has expressed concern over the growing trend of talented players leaving the Ghana Premier League at a young age, warning that the situation is gradually affecting the quality and competitiveness of domestic football.
Mahama made the comments during a meeting with Ghana Premier League champions Medeama SC, MTN FA Cup winners Nations FC and Women’s Premier League champions Ampem Darkoa Ladies at the Jubilee House.
The President believes Ghanaian clubs are too quick to sell promising players once they begin attracting attention from scouts, resulting in a steady depletion of talent from the domestic competition.
“We are too fast to sell our players. As soon as a player starts to show some promise, oh, then the scouts pick him and take him away. And so it depletes the local league,” Mahama said.
According to the President, Ghana must find ways to keep emerging talents in the domestic league for a longer period so they can develop properly and gain valuable international experience before securing moves abroad.
He believes giving young players opportunities with the national teams would help accelerate their development while also increasing their exposure to the demands of international football.
“We must see how we can keep them a bit longer. At least give them opportunities in the national team so that they get experience in playing on the international platform. And then eventually, the international scouts or our local scouts, they would have matured to a certain level, and then we’ll take them away.”
Mahama’s concerns come at a time when several young Ghanaian players are attracting interest from clubs outside the country, with transfers abroad becoming an increasingly important part of the domestic football landscape.
While the early departure of promising players has raised concerns about the quality of the Ghana Premier League, clubs face significant financial challenges that make player sales an important source of income.
With limited sponsorship and other commercial revenues, many clubs rely on transfer fees to finance their operations, pay salaries and strengthen their squads. Selling a promising player can therefore provide much-needed financial relief and allow clubs to reinvest in their teams.
Mahama, however, believes the long-term development of Ghanaian football requires a balance between the financial interests of clubs and the need to build a stronger domestic competition.
The President also identified refereeing as another major concern that must be addressed if the Ghana Premier League is to improve.
He stressed the importance of ensuring that officiating is credible and consistent, as refereeing decisions can have a significant impact on the competitiveness and reputation of the league.
His comments underline the need for broader reforms across Ghanaian football, from player development and grassroots structures to refereeing and the financial sustainability of clubs.
Mahama’s call ultimately places the responsibility on football authorities and club administrators to find solutions that can protect the quality of the domestic league while still allowing Ghanaian players to pursue international opportunities at the right stage of their careers.
