Seth Panwum, a former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Sports Authority, has called for the resignation of the president of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) following the Black Stars’ 2-4 defeat to The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday. He described this defeat as “a serious warning about the direction of Ghana football” and demanded accountability from the GFA leadership.
In a statement signed and released to the Daily Graphic on September 30, 2026, Mr. Panwum, who also serves as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) spokesperson on sports, described the loss to The Gambia as “particularly painful because it happened on home soil.” He asserted that it represented “a significant setback for a national team whose supporters expect Ghana to be highly competitive, especially in Accra.”
“We cannot normalise this,” Mr. Panwum stated, contrasting the current performance with the team’s record under the NPP administration, highlighting a strong home record, including a 1-0 victory over Mali during the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. He expressed concern that Ghana is currently “witnessing a worrying decline in standards.”
Mr. Panwum clarified that his criticism was not aimed at individual players or injuries, as football always involves such challenges. He emphasised that the difference between Ghana and teams like Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia lies in better management, match preparation, and tactical execution. “The Gambia came to Accra and defeated Ghana 4-2. That result should compel every serious football administrator to pause and ask whether the current approach is working,” he added.
Resignation
“As the NPP spokesperson on sports, I am calling on the President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to take responsibility for the current state of Ghana football and resign from office,” he said. He argued that such a resignation would “provide an opportunity for a new leadership direction and allow Ghana football to begin a comprehensive process of rebuilding, reform and restoration.”
Mr Panwum also proposed a number of measures he believes are necessary to reset Ghana football. These include a comprehensive technical review of the Black Stars, a transparent assessment of the team’s preparation for national assignments, stronger accountability within the GFA, and increased investment in youth development and domestic football.
“The Black Stars belong to the Ghanaian people. They are not the property of the GFA, the government, a political party or any individual. “Ghana football deserves better. The Black Stars deserve better, and the Ghanaian football supporter deserves accountability,” he emphasised.
Defeat
The 2-4 defeat last Tuesday, where The Gambia faced off against the Black Stars of Ghana, marked Ghana’s second consecutive loss in their opening two matches of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign. Previously, the Black Stars lost 0-2 to Côte d’Ivoire.
