Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams has called on football authorities to deliberately create and promote star players as part of efforts to restore the appeal and commercial value of the Ghana Premier League.
Speaking at the Ghana Football Association’s 32nd Ordinary Congress in Prampram, Adams said the domestic league previously had players whose performances, personalities and rivalries attracted supporters and gave the competition a distinct identity.
He cited former Ghana Premier League stars Charles Taylor, Stephen Oduro and Don Bortey as examples of players who became major attractions during their time in the competition.
"There was a time when Don Bortey, Charles Taylor, Stephen Oduro were attractions. Supporters knew the characters of the league. There were heroes. The rivalries were deep, and the personalities could be identified," Adams said.
According to the Minister, the Ghana Premier League still has talented players, but the football industry has not done enough to turn those players into recognisable figures capable of attracting supporters and generating interest in the competition.
"Today there is much media presence, but who are they? Where are they? Or we have not been able to produce them. We still have talented players, but maybe we are failing to deliberately create stars," he added.
Adams believes the development of identifiable stars should be treated as an intentional part of efforts to improve the league rather than something that happens naturally.
"We have to create the stars. We have to work intentionally to create stars to help the system," he said.
He argued that the personalities associated with a football competition are an important part of its identity and ability to attract an audience.
"You can’t sell the league without selling its character. That is why I say we must be intentional in creating those characters; then we can sell," Adams stated.
His comments come as Ghanaian football authorities continue to face concerns over declining interest in the domestic league, including attendance, commercial revenue and the ability of clubs to build strong connections with supporters.
The Minister's call also points to the need for clubs, the GFA, the media and other stakeholders to work together in developing the profiles of players who can become leading figures in the league.
In previous years, players such as Bortey, Taylor and Oduro became widely recognised beyond their individual clubs, with their performances and rivalries generating significant interest in the competition.
Adams believes a similar generation of personalities can emerge from the current crop of Ghanaian players if the football industry adopts a deliberate approach to their development and promotion.
