Former Asante Kotoko board chairman Herbert Mensah has criticized the excessive spending on the Black Stars and other sports in Ghana, citing a lack of tangible results despite decades of investment.
Speaking to Joy News, Mensah expressed frustration over the use of taxpayers’ money on the senior men’s national football team, which has failed to win the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) since 1982—a drought spanning over 42 years.
“We have to look inwardly at ourselves. A great sporting nation like Ghana is no longer a great sporting nation,” Mensah remarked. “You go to the Olympics—we wasted taxpayers’ money. You go to the Commonwealth Games—we’ve wasted taxpayers’ money. You go to the Nations Cup [AFCON], and the amount of money spent, singularly on football, the political sport, is not acceptable.”
Mensah called for a review of Ghana’s financial commitment to the Black Stars and other sports, arguing that spending vast sums without results should no longer be tolerated.
The Black Stars’ failure to qualify for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco underscored Ghana’s declining fortunes in football. Otto Addo’s side managed only three points in six qualifying matches, finishing winless against Angola, Niger, and Sudan in Group F.
Beyond football, Mensah highlighted the broader decline in Ghanaian sports, noting dismal performances in events like the Olympics and Commonwealth Games. He urged the nation to reassess its priorities and funding strategies to revive its legacy as a competitive sporting powerhouse.
With both football and other disciplines struggling, the call for a strategic overhaul aligns with the sentiments of many Ghanaians who are demanding accountability and meaningful results from their sports investments.
