Accra Lions FC has lamented over the deteriorating state of Ghanaian football, highlighting critical challenges that threaten the future of the sport.
The club described the current situation as a crossroads, calling for urgent reforms to restore professionalism, transparency, and sportsmanship in the domestic game.
The club’s concerns are rooted in what it described as steadily declining conditions in the Ghana Premier League, a situation they say is emblematic of the wider struggles in Ghanaian football.
“We are playing our fourth season in Ghana’s top division, and unfortunately, we have to admit that the conditions are steadily deteriorating,” the statement read.
Accra Lions expressed disgust over the absence of a sponsor for the league and the lack of a television rights deal, which they believe is undermining the league’s credibility and appeal.
“There is now no sponsor for the league, nor has a television contract been negotiated at this point,” the club said, questioning how such glaring issues have been allowed to persist.
The statement went on to link the lack of sponsorship to questionable refereeing standards, warning that the current trajectory could make the league unattractive to potential partners.
“How will the league ever acquire sponsors again if refereeing performances like yesterday’s become the standard and any criticism is immediately sanctioned by the association?” Accra Lions asked, referencing what they see as a stifling culture of unaccountability.
The club also criticised the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for leaving “lots of incidents and happenings” unattended, saying this has “left us with more questions than answers.”
They warned that such tendencies are eroding trust among fans and the wider public, calling it a worrying trend that undermines the essence of the sport.
Accra Lions linked these domestic issues to Ghana’s declining fortunes on the international stage, describing the latter as a reflection of the former.
They questioned whether the Ghana Premier League, in its current state, provides a conducive environment for young talents to develop the winning mentality necessary for international competitiveness.
“We have consistently committed ourselves to working with young players and must be allowed to raise the question of whether the Ghana Premier League, as we are experiencing it these days, is a healthy environment for highly talented young players who should develop a proper sporting spirit and a winning mentality to make them internationally competitive,” the statement said.
Determined to effect change, the club reaffirmed its commitment to fair play and pledged to collaborate with any group or organisation working to reform the sport.
“We are determined to join whichever group or organisation(s) to make the sport a clean one and better for healthy competition. We have resolved to stand by the game’s principle of FairPlay and speak truth to power,” the statement concluded.
