Former Captain of Ghana’s Senior National Football Team (Black Stars), Mr. Stephen Appiah, has urged the government to allocate more funds to the development of football in the country.
Appiah made this appeal while appearing before Parliament’s fact-finding committee investigating the declining state of football in Ghana on Wednesday, September 24, 2024.
The former captain expressed concern that many football fans have lost interest in the sport, which is detrimental to the nation’s football legacy.
He pointed out that while significant attention is given to the National Team, the under-17, under-20, under-23 teams, and women’s football are often neglected.
“It’s unfortunate that Ghana has not won any major trophy in the last 10 years. The Black Stars last won the African Cup of Nations in 2015,” Appiah said.
He also highlighted a lack of fairness in team selection, noting that some players who perform well during qualifying matches are excluded from the main tournament, affecting team unity.
Hon. Seth Panwun Boyoyo, Board Chairman of the National Sports Authority, also addressed the committee, explaining that the authority’s role is to promote and develop both amateur and professional sports.
He lamented the poor state of the pitch during the recent match between the Black Stars and Angola, stating, “Steps are being taken to address the situation.”
Committee Chairman, Hon. Kobena Mensah Woyome, MP for South Tongu Constituency, emphasized that the committee’s purpose is to investigate the current decline in football, following a petition from the Fix Ghana Group presented to Parliament in February.
He encouraged participants to be candid in their presentations, stating, “The petitioners raised about 15 concerns, and your input is crucial to our deliberations.”
