Ghana's Parliamentary Select Committee on Sports is set to summon the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the Minister of Sports and Recreation following the Black Stars' disappointing start to their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign. The team suffered two consecutive defeats, losing 2-0 to Côte d'Ivoire in Bouaké and then collapsing from a 2-0 lead to lose 4-2 against The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium. These results have left Ghana bottom of Group C with no points.
The Parliamentary Select Committee on Sports, led by chairman Ernest Henry Norgbey, aims to question the GFA and the minister about the state of Ghanaian football, particularly the senior national team. Norgbey stated that the committee has not yet formally investigated the recent results but plans to invite the GFA and the minister to provide explanations. He emphasized that the problems plaguing Ghanaian football run deeper than the current coach, Carlos Queiroz, and suggested that sacking him would not solve the underlying issues.
Norgbey argued that the issues with Ghanaian football are structural and that repeatedly changing coaches and leadership without addressing these problems would only lead to more disasters. He alleged that some underperforming players continue to be selected for commercial reasons and that greater investment in sports is needed. The committee chairman did not rule out more drastic government action, including the possibility of dissolving the GFA and starting anew, similar to what was done in Nigeria.
The Black Stars' recent performances have sparked sharp public and political reactions. Communications Minister Sam George called for the team to be disbanded and the GFA leadership removed, suggesting that Ghana should accept a FIFA ban to rebuild properly. Former sports minister Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye criticised the team's management style, describing it as superficial and ineffective.
Several high-profile players, including Mohammed Kudus, Antoine Semenyo, captain Jordan Ayew, and Baba Rahman, were unavailable for the recent qualifiers due to injury or fitness concerns. GFA president Kurt Okraku insisted that no player has deliberately refused a call-up during his tenure and that the withdrawals were genuine medical issues. The team's struggles have exposed persistent weaknesses in converting leads, midfield control, defensive organisation, and consistency.
Ghana still has four qualifiers left, including a November double-header against Somalia and March 2027 matches against Côte d'Ivoire at home and The Gambia away. While qualification remains mathematically possible, it is no longer straightforward. The parliamentary invitation is intended to examine administration, selection processes, funding, development pathways, and the working relationship between the GFA, the Sports Ministry, and the technical staff.
The committee's planned hearings represent an attempt to force answers before another cycle of disappointment becomes the new normal. The latest results have highlighted the need for greater investment in sports and a more effective management structure. The Black Stars' poor performance has significant implications for Ghanaian football, and the parliamentary inquiry is expected to shed more light on the underlying issues and potential solutions.
Key points
- The Parliamentary Select Committee on Sports will summon the GFA and the Minister of Sports and Recreation to address the Black Stars' poor performance in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
- The committee chairman, Ernest Henry Norgbey, believes that the problems with Ghanaian football run deeper than the current coach and require a more structural solution.
- The team's struggles have sparked sharp public and political reactions, with some calling for drastic action, including the dissolution of the GFA and a FIFA ban.
