GFA Too Focused on Black Stars, Neglecting Local Leagues – Kwabena Agyei Agyepong

Mr Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, has criticised the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for what he described as an unhealthy focus on the Black Stars at the expense of the country’s local football leagues.

The NPP presidential hopeful, expressed concern that Ghana’s football leadership has lost sight of the structures that once made the local game vibrant and self-sustaining.

“There is a lot wrong with our local football,” he said during an interview on Opemsuo Radio’s Nkwantannanso with Kofi Boakye.

“I think the FA is placing too much effort on the Black Stars to the detriment of the local game.”

He explained that while the national team plays an important role in promoting Ghana internationally, the continuous neglect of the domestic leagues has caused a decline in community engagement, player development, and football-related revenue

“In the past, State Transport used to get a lot of income from local matches. Abroad, football is a big source of income because they have built strong local systems,” he added.

Agyepong noted that the local leagues once served as the breeding ground for national talent and community pride, with traditional clubs such as Asante Kotoko, Hearts of Oak, and Sekondi Hasaacas deeply rooted in community identity.

“Football is connected to the community, so if you remove that link, it breaks down,” he added.

He further argued that restoring attention to local football would not only improve the quality of the national team but also revive the passion that once united Ghanaians through the sport.

Agyepong reiterated that, if elected, he would work to make sports — particularly football — a national priority by bringing it under the direct oversight of the presidency, ensuring balanced investment between the national team and the local leagues.

Story by Adwoa S. Danso