Ghana is no longer a football nation – Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, NSA boss

Director of National Sports Authority, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah has expressed concerns over the current state of Ghana football, declaring that the nation is no longer a football powerhouse during an interview with Nana Romeo on UTV’s Atuu Show.

“We shouldn’t deceive ourselves. Ghana is no longer a football nation checking the state of our football and in terms of facilities. Ghana was a football nation but not now,” Ankrah stated. He emphasized the need for a rigorous evaluation of existing facilities, which have fallen into disrepair, detracting from the essence of the sport.

Ankrah also acknowledged the promises from President Mahama to construct new stadiums, but he stressed the urgency of addressing the maintenance of existing facilities that have been neglected over the years. “We have to work on the ones we already have and take our maintenance seriously,” he noted.

Reflecting on Ghana’s rich football heritage, Ankrah reminded fans and stakeholders of the glory days following the country’s fourth AFCON title in Tripoli. “Once upon a time, Ghana was a football nation, but since then we have struggled because we’ve taken things for granted,” he lamented.

As the nation grapples with this sobering reality, the call to action is clear: it is imperative to invest in both infrastructure and talent to restore Ghana’s status in the football world.