Ghana sports a pale shadow of itself – John Mahama

President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama has sounded the whistle on Ghana’s declining sports sector, conceding that the country’s sporting excellence has been offside in recent years during his State of the Nation Address speech.

In its heyday, Ghana was a dominant force in international sports, making waves on the African continent and beyond.

Nowadays, Ghana struggles to bring its A-game when it matters most with the recent African Cup of Nations qualifications disaster being the last nail on the coffin.

The country’s sporting legacy, once highlighted by Olympic medals, boxing honors, track and field triumphs, and football prowess at both youth and senior levels, has become a distant memory.

President Mahama, having acknowledged the slump, says he’s committed to ensuring the country regains its former glory.

“Ghana’s sports sector, once again, which was a shining example of excellence within Africa, now finds itself at a very critical juncture. Historically, our nation has been celebrated and has had remarkable achievements in boxing, football, and athletics. Unfortunately, this is no longer the case”he said during the Stae of the Nation’s Address on the floor of Parliament on Thursday, February 27.

”However, recent years have unveiled the depressing structural deficiencies in administration, funding, infrastructure, and talent development. Immediate and comprehensive reforms are imperative to reclaim our rightful place on the global sports stage” he added.

Ghana’s football fortunes have been in freefall since 2018, hitting an all-time low in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, where the team created unwanted history.

The Black Stars have suffered the indignity of failing to progress beyond the group stages in the last two AFCON tournaments (2021 and 2023), and to make matters worse, they missed out on qualification for the 2025 AFCON, a first in 20 years.

As Ghana gears up for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Mahama’s call to action underscores the urgent need for a radical transformation in the country’s football landscape.

 

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