President John Dramani Mahama voiced worries on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, that Ghana’s football talent is departing the local league at an alarming pace, citing a gradual decline in the quality of domestic competition. The remarks came during a courtesy visit by representatives of Nations FC, Medeama SC and Ampem Dakoa Ladies to the Jubilee House.
Mahama said, “We’re too fast to sell our players. As soon as a player starts to show some promise, oh, then the scouts pick him and take him away. And so it depletes the local league.” He added that the country must find ways to retain these young athletes for longer periods, offering them opportunities to represent the national team and gain international experience before being poached by foreign clubs.
He explained that exposure on the international stage would help the players mature, stating, “Eventually the international scouts or our local scouts, they would have matured to a certain level and then we’ll take them away.” The president’s comments highlight a growing concern among Ghanaian football stakeholders about the sustainability of the local league’s talent pipeline.
What follows is a call to action for clubs, the Ghana Football Association and the government to collaborate on retention strategies, potentially through improved contracts, development programs and national team pathways. The outcome will determine whether Ghana can keep its brightest football stars on home soil longer, strengthening the league and the national squad alike.
