Hundreds of fans took to the streets of Accra, the capital of Ghana, this Wednesday, demanding new leadership for the national team after Ghana failed to advance past the group stage in the CAN. The fans wore black and red jerseys with the words “Save Ghana football” and protested with signs along the main streets to express their frustration with the team’s poor performance in recent major tournaments.
Ghana, four-time winner of the CAN, the last of which was in the distant year of 1982, has participated in four World Cups and reached the quarter-finals in 2010.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) sacked coach Chris Hughton last month following the team’s poor performance in the CAN.
Hughton, whose father is of Ghanaian descent, took over the role in March and won only four of his 13 matches in charge of the national team and was under pressure for the CAN.
The GFA, led by Kurt Okraku, is now seeking the fifth coach of the Black Stars in five years.
“Ghana football is facing a dark period in its history today, an unprecedented moment that has brought global embarrassment to the brand that used to make all of us, both at home and abroad, very proud,” said the protesters in a petition presented to Parliament.
During the protest, they demanded that President Nana Akufo-Addo initiate an investigation into Ghana’s participation in the 2022 World Cup and the CAN, alleging corruption and wasteful spending by the GFA during the tournaments.
They also called for a national football policy, increased investment in youth football, and improvements in the local league.
“We have a unique opportunity as a nation to make changes in our football governing structure,” the petition says.
“Football belongs to us, not to the GFA,” said Saddick Adams, one of the protesters. The GFA was not available for comment on the matter.
