Yaw Ampofo Ankrah writes….
Since Ghana gained independence in 1957, the Black Star(s) has been a symbol of football pride, the envy of nations, and a beacon of African sporting prowess.
Four African titles during the heyday of Ghana football drew attention, admiration, and, with it, accolades beyond the shores of Gold Coast.
Sadly, in more recent times, five coaches in as many years could not halt embarrassing successive failures at the African CUP of nations.
These disastrous outings have literally undone and erased the historic exploits of the title-winning pioneers.
Back-to-back first-round eliminations at Afcon tournaments gave indications of potentially greater failures ahead.
Those who dared to challenge, criticize, or warn the establishment were rebuffed, ridiculed, or strategically sidelined from the mainstream business of football.
Today, the Black Stars cannot even win a qualification match, let alone qualify for the AFCON itself.
The greatest tragedy in all of this must be the colossal financial support enjoyed by the Black Stars from the government of Ghana, even at the expense of other sports disciplines.
What is even more scandalous is that the humiliation has been allowed and even goaded by the very group who call themselves football people.
The leadership of Ghana sports media finds itself in a very uncomfortable, if not uncompromising, situation where the key players who are supposed to act as watchdogs are rather feeding off the crumbs of the football caretakers.
The few emboldened ones who have remained true and stoic to the cause of holding officials accountable have generally been labeled as malicious agenda setters and opponents of the Football Association.
The dubious policy of “You are either with us or against us” has caused so much damage in such a short time that if action is not taken immediately to rescue Ghana football from its downward spiral, the end game might be even more devastating than what has so far been witnessed.
