President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana has expressed his belief that Black Stars captain Andre Ayew sincerely meant his apology to the country following the team’s disappointing performance at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
In his State of the Nation Address on Tuesday, the president acknowledged that the team’s early exit from the tournament was a low point for Ghanaian football, but he was impressed by Ayew’s leadership in taking responsibility and apologising on behalf of the team.
“The recent AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire was probably the nadir of the performance of the Black Stars, and has left the nation saddened,” the president said.
“However, I am quite certain that the young men and the technical handlers would, themselves, have wanted to make our nation proud, and I believe that the captain, Andre Dede Ayew, meant every word when he rendered heartfelt apologies on behalf of his team-mates to all Ghanaians for the team’s early exit.”
What do you think of Andre Ayew's apology to Ghanaians?pic.twitter.com/UXiNgYZ9Fq
— Bill Eshun (@Bill_Eshun) January 30, 2024
The president also addressed the current state of Ghanaian football, which has faced challenges in recent years, revealing plans of a presidential policy.
“Mr Speaker, I believe it is time for us to take a long-term, far-sighted approach to correct what has gone wrong,” he stated.
“It is time to return to scouting, grooming and developing talent at the district grassroots level under a Presidential Policy on Football that I intend to unveil. The school sports department of the Ministry of Education will work hand in hand with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, in collaboration and synergy with the Ghana Football Association (GFA), to build district, regional and national juvenile teams for both boys and girls.”
Akufo-Addo added that the policy draws inspiration from successful past initiatives, notably Ben Koufie’s five-year development plan under the NPP administration of President John Agyekum Kufuor.
“It was under this plan that talents such as Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari, John Mensah, Derrick Boateng and later, Asamoah Gyan and Stephen Appiah, were discovered and nurtured. The results became evident to us and the world. It takes time, dedication and patience. We cannot harvest where we have not planted and irrigated. I have no doubt at all that the Black Stars will rise and make us proud again,” he emphasised.
The president’s comments come amid calls for reform within Ghanaian football, including protests by the Save Ghana Football group.