Ghana has a rich history in relation to the football sport. The game has produced some notable players who have achieved success at both national and international levels.
However, in recent years, there have been several challenges and issues that have affected the overall quality and development of Ghana football, leading to a decline in performance of the various teams. These factors are not far-fetched. They include:
Inadequate infrastructure: One major challenge in Ghana football is the inadequate infrastructure. Many football pitches and training facilities are in poor conditions or nonexistent, particularly in rural areas. The lack of proper infrastructure hampers the development of young talents and inhibits the growth of the sport.
Most people who go there to watch football cannot do so peacefully because of lack of security personnel at the stadiums, the washrooms are in bad conditions, making it so difficult to use the place. Some spectators say the washrooms are so bad that they cannot go to the stadium with their kids to watch a football game, thereby reducing the number of people that come to the stadium anytime there is a football match. Most of the clubs in Ghana do not have good pitches.
Some of them use school parks as training grounds thereby not bringing out the quality of football Ghanaians used to enjoy. A typical example is Accra Hearts of Oak which used to train at AJAX park at East Legon, but have now moved to the Pobiman sports complex.
Financial constraints: Financial difficulties have also impacted Ghana football in recent times. Many clubs struggle to secure adequate funding for their operations, player salaries, and facility maintenance.
Limited financial resources limit the ability to attract and retain talented players and invest in proper training and development programs. Most players are given short period of contract, at most three years. Because of lack of financial support, when these players develop into talents, they move out of the country, thus reducing the interest and passion for Ghana football. These players vanish in the system immediately they become known or popular in the Ghana football league, which is reducing the interest in Ghana football.
Averagely, a player in Ghana is paid between eight hundred to one thousand, five hundred cedis (GHC800.00 -GHC1,500.00) a month, which is inadequate to cater for themselves, family and friends. The situation is worsened by the absence of lucrative sponsorship for Ghana football in recent times. The Ghana premier league has come under a barrage of criticisms from former players and football fanatics in the country following the failure of the administration to land a sponsorship deal for the country’s apex league. Elsewhere, football is flourishing to the benefit socio-economic advancement, but in Ghana, football is dwindling because of lack of sponsorship and interest.
Poor administration and governance: The administration and governance of football in Ghana have been allegedly marred by corruption, mismanagement, and lack of transparency. These issues have resulted in a lack accountability and hindered the sport’s growth and development.
Additionally, frequent leadership changes and infighting within the Ghana Football Association, have created instability and further hindered progress. Everybody talks about corruption and greed within football circles in the country. This state of affairs is bringing the image of Ghana football down. The scent of football stinks so badly that Ghanaians usually do not care about the male senior national team, the Black Stars and even stopped attending matches. The perceived disconnect between officials in power and fans has left local football at its lowest state. Supporters believe match officials always take bribes and officiate matches to satisfy their personal interests.
Player development and coaching: While Ghana has a history of producing talented players, there has been lack of consistent player development programs and quality coaching at grassroots levels. The focus on individual skills and tactical understanding has been lacking, leading to a decline in overall player quality.
The neglect of grassroots football over the years has crippled the best clubs in Ghana’s premier league and the game as a whole. Some young talents are lucky to have been scouted to European clubs through academies, while others remain unnoticed due to poor scouting and their current location. These talented and skillful young players are left in the rural areas due to poverty, hence they are never discovered in order to harness their capabilities.
It is worth noting that these issues are not unique to Ghana as similar challenges exist in many developing football nations. However, addressing these challenges can help revive and strengthen Ghana football to enable it contribute its quota to the development of this country.
By Syme Emmanuel
The writer is a student of UniMAC-GIJ