President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has hinted at formulating a new policy to guide the most popular sport in Ghana.
To be called Presidential Policy on Football, the guide, according to President Akufo-Addo, is to correct what has gone wrong with football in the country.
He made this known on Tuesday, February 27 when he delivered the State of the Nation Address to Parliament.
Describing the state of the nation as “safe”, “secure” and under control, President Akufo-Addo bemoaned happenings in the sports sector, particularly the recent performances of the senior national men’s soccer team at major tournaments.
The Black Stars, once Africa’s best team, has dwindled in performance at major tournaments, the last of which was in La Côte d’Ivoire, where the team exited at the group stage, losing to lowly-ranked Cape Verde in the first game.
“Mr Speaker, I believe it is time for us to take a long-term, far-sighted approach to correct what has gone wrong,” President Akufo-Addo proposed.
“It is time to return to scouting, grooming and developing talent at the district grassroots level under a Presidential Policy on Football that I intend to unveil.”
He added that the school sports department of the Ministry of Education will be made to work hand-in-hand with the Ministry of Youth and Sports as well as the Ghana Football Association (GFA) “to build district, regional and national juvenile teams for both boys and girls”.
He also indicated that the over 150 astro turf pitches constructed throughout the country will provide the foundational facilities.
“We should see a steady progression of talent up the ladder from the junior juvenile teams to the senior sides based on merit, and nothing else.”
For him, this has been done before, under the presidency of John Agyekum Kufuor, leading to the unearthing of many foot all talents including Michael Essien, Sulley Ali Muntari, John Mensah and Derrick Boateng.
It was the 5-year Development Plan led by former GFA President Ben Koufie.
“The results became evident to us and the world,” President Akufo-Addo said.
“It takes time, dedication and patience. We cannot harvest where we have not planted and irrigated.
“I have no doubt at all that the Black Stars will rise and make us proud again.”
