Nii Lante Vanderpuye calls for overhaul of Ghana football

Former Youth and Sports Minister Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye has heavily criticized the Ghana Football Association (GFA), asserting that the current leadership structure is a significant obstacle to the success of the Black Stars.

Speaking in an interview with Kessben FM, the Odododiodio MP highlighted systemic flaws within the GFA that he believes have contributed to the Black Stars’ decline, including their failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) for the first time since 2004.

“If I were the Sports Minister, I would disband the GFA,” Vanderpuye stated. “Yes, FIFA would suspend us for six months, but we could use that time to restructure and prepare for the next AFCON qualifiers.”

The former minister criticized the association’s lack of accountability and centralized control over key decisions, from coaching appointments to player management.

He questioned the practice of blaming coaches for the team’s failures while overlooking structural deficiencies within the GFA.

“Why do we always sit back and let the GFA sack the coach when the Black Stars fail? This issue is much bigger than coaching,” he said.

Vanderpuye argued that even elite managers like Pep Guardiola or Jürgen Klopp would struggle to achieve success under the current setup.

“We’ve created a system where one person controls everything—players, coaches, even ballboys and the team doctor. Without structural change, it doesn’t matter who manages the team; we will still fail,” he remarked.

The Black Stars endured a disastrous AFCON qualification campaign, finishing at the bottom of Group F with three points from six matches, marking their first-ever winless qualifiers campaign.

Vanderpuye’s remarks serve as a wake-up call for introspection and bold reforms within Ghana football, emphasizing the need for systemic changes to revive the Black Stars’ fortunes.