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Their demonstration is a response to the national team’s failure to advance beyond the group stage in the recently concluded 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) held in Cote d’Ivoire.
In Accra, the capital city of Ghana, hundreds of football enthusiasts have taken to the streets, clad in black and red T-shirts bearing the message “Save Ghana football” and wielding placards.
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Ghana, a four-time Nations Cup champion with its last victory dating back to 1982, has faced criticism for its underwhelming performances in recent major tournaments, including four World Cup qualifications and a quarter-final appearance in 2010.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) dismissed Coach Chris Hughton last month following the team’s third-place finish in Group B at the 2023 Africa Nations Cup.
Hughton, who took over as coach in March and faced pressure due to a string of unsatisfactory results, won only four of the 13 matches under his charge. The GFA, led by Kurt Okraku, is currently in the process of recruiting its fifth Black Stars coach in five years.
Protesters, submitting a petition to Parliament, expressed their discontent, describing their football as facing a “dark spell” and demanding an investigation into alleged corruption and wasteful spending by the GFA during the 2022 World Cup and the 2023 Cup of Nations.
They called for President Nana Akufo-Addo to launch an inquiry and urged the implementation of a national football policy, increased investment in grassroots football, and enhancements to the local league. The petition emphasized the need for structural changes to restore the nation’s pride in football.
