Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) has called for a stakeholder consultation to address the declining fortunes of Ghana’s senior national side, the Black Stars.
Ghana’s Black Stars were winless in six matches, failing to qualify for the African Cup of Nations for the first time in 20 years.
According to a statement signed by Mr. Kwabena Yeboah, SWAG President, Black Stars’ recent poor run of results was a betrayal of Ghanaians’ huge support and investment in the team.
“The failure calls for deep reflection not only on missing the 2025 tournament but on the gradual decline of arguably Ghana’s biggest football brand, the Black Stars.
“The senior national team impacts so many aspects of Ghanaian lives, including that of sports journalists, and to see it move from Africa Cup of Nations last four regulars between 2008 to 2017 to a team that has failed to qualify from the group stage in the last two editions (2021& 2023) and now one that can’t even qualify for an expanded 24-team continental tournament is deeply concerning,” the statement said.
It added that there was a need to hold a broad-based stakeholder engagement to address the many challenges holding the team back as well as the multiple concerns of interested parties.
“This must happen as soon as possible.As Ghana proved after the 2004 failure to qualify for the Nations Cup to reach a first world cup in 2006, two Afcon finals and four semis, this country has an ability to bounce back from disappointment in style, but only if we talk frankly, put Ghana first and make the hard, difficult decisions required to take Ghana football forward.
“Desperate times call for desperate measures, and Ghana Football is at such a time. Accountability, which instills a sense of trust between leaders and their followership, is solely needed now,” the statement said.
SWAG also noted that it was not enough for the Ghana Football Association to assume collective responsibility for the recent failings but rather sack officials who failed to deliver on their mandate.
GNA
