Member of Parliament for Mion, Misbahu Mahama Adams, has called for a deliberate increase in the number of locally-based players in Ghana’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, proposing that at least 10 players from the Ghana Premier League be included in the final team.
As preparations for the tournament gather momentum, Adams expressed concern over the limited representation of home-based players in recent Black Stars call-ups. He noted that Hearts of Oak goalkeeper Benjamin Asare has been the only consistent inclusion from the domestic league.
While acknowledging Asare’s presence, the MP believes Ghana must widen opportunities for local talents to feature on the global stage.
Speaking on the issue, Adams stressed that his proposal is not intended to undermine merit-based selection but to ensure a structured balance between foreign-based and home-based players.
“I actually did a statement on the floor of Parliament… we have to be deliberate in including our local players in the national team, especially for the 2026 World Cup,” he said.
“I’m not saying we should stop selecting players based on merit… I’m just saying we should be deliberate. About 33.3% of the squad—roughly 10 players—should be local-based.
“You can imagine what this money will do to our local league,” he added.
His comments come amid ongoing debates over the competitiveness of the Ghana Premier League and its role in feeding talent into the national team ahead of the World Cup.
