Professor Emmanuel Osei Sarpong has stepped into the spotlight at the National Sports Authority (NSA), taking over as Acting Director-General after the suspension of Yaw Ampofo Ankrah.
His appointment comes at a tense moment for Ghanaian sports. The NSA is facing scrutiny over its administration and the management of the country’s sports facilities.
President John Dramani Mahama directed Yaw Ampofo Ankrah’s immediate suspension in a letter dated October 1, 2026. The decision follows a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probe into allegations linked to a World Cup visa facilitation scheme.
The presidency was careful to stress that the suspension is not a finding of wrongdoing against Yaw Ampofo Ankrah. The letter states that it is an administrative measure while the investigation continues.
Yaw Ampofo Ankrah appeared before the police last week and denied wrongdoing. The NSA has also previously denied authorising any World Cup visa facilitation scheme.
Now, Sarpong inherits the pressure that comes with leading one of Ghana’s key sports agencies. The Associate Professor of Exercise and Sports Science at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), brings a strong academic and sports administration background to the role.
Professor Sarpong is also the National Coordinator of the School and Grassroots Sports Secretariat at the Ministry of Sports and Recreation. He has served on the NSA Governing Board and chaired its Technical Committee.
His connection with the NSA is not new. He was part of the 2025-2026 Governing Board before President Mahama dissolved the board in September.
His appointment had also been discussed earlier in 2025, when his name emerged among those considered for the NSA’s top job. His experience in sports science, athlete development and sports administration now gives him the chance to shape the Authority from the inside.
For Professor Sarpong, the immediate task is bigger than filling a vacant chair. He must keep the NSA’s operations moving while an investigation hangs over its leadership and public attention remains firmly fixed on Ghana’s sports administration.
The change also puts the management of Ghana’s sports infrastructure back in focus. The NSA oversees the development and management of sports facilities across the country, making Professor Sarpong’s first days in office closely watched by the sporting community.
