President John Dramani Mahama met Ghana Premier League champions Medeama SC, Nations FC and Ampem Darkoa Ladies at the Presidency. He voiced deep worry about falling standards in domestic football. He handed over cash to back their African campaigns.
Mahama said clubs sell talent too fast. “We are too quick to sell our players. As soon as a player shows promise, scouts take him away, mostly to Europe, and that depletes the quality of our local league,” he stated.
He urged a better path. “We must find a way to keep our talented players longer, give them opportunities in the national team, allow them to gain international experience, and then let them move abroad after they have matured.”
The President asked about youth football. “I do not know what happened to it, so I want to ask the Football Association: what has happened to the Colts League?”
He praised women’s teams. “Our women have won more trophies for us than the men, and yet we put all the money into men’s football.” He called for equal support under affirmative action.
Mahama pledged more funds to the Sports Development Fund once it runs fully. This would aid all sports nationwide.
He gave a total of GHS 684,000 to the three clubs. Medeama SC got GHS 342,000 for their CAF Champions League second leg against TP Mazembe on 12 September. Nations FC received GHS 228,000 for the CAF Confederation Cup. Ampem Darkoa Ladies got GHS 114,000 for women’s continental play.
Mahama also hit out at refereeing. “Unfortunately, refereeing is one of the things destroying our football,” he said. “Sometimes people believe the matches are decided before they are even played, and that makes the league less competitive.”
He demanded fair play. “Every match must be fairly officiated so that whoever wins does so on merit. That is the only way to restore confidence in our football.” Poor officiating hurts attendance and club income.
Officials from the Ministry of Sports, GFA and National Sports Authority joined the meeting. The talks highlight Ghana’s struggle to build strong local sides amid money pressures and talent drain.
