Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, the proprietor of Nsoatreman FC in the Ghana Premier League, voiced his concerns regarding the financial viability of investing in the local football league.
Speaking during a parliamentary session discussing Ghana's performance at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Baffour-Awuah, who also serves as the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, emphasized the challenging nature of investing in Ghanaian football.
He highlighted the need for individuals to be prepared to make significant sacrifices in order to invest in the local league, citing the limited financial returns as a major deterrent.
Baffour-Awuah stressed the importance of prioritizing local talent in the national team, suggesting that Ghana's success hinges on the inclusion of domestic players as the backbone of the Black Stars.
"As someone deeply involved in football investment, I must admit that investing in Ghanaian football requires considerable courage because the financial gains are not commensurate with the effort," he remarked candidly during his address in Parliament.
He expressed concern over the lack of spectator attendance at local matches, which contributes to the financial challenges faced by club owners and investors in the league.
Despite the substantial investments poured into football development, Baffour-Awuah lamented the inability to recoup these investments due to various factors affecting the profitability of the sport in Ghana.
He acknowledged the necessity for bold and resilient individuals willing to make sacrifices to sustain and advance football in Ghana, emphasizing the crucial role played by passionate investors in driving the growth of the sport.
Baffour-Awuah's remarks shed light on the harsh realities confronting stakeholders in Ghanaian football, underscoring the need for strategic interventions to address the financial sustainability of the sport at the grassroots level.
As discussions surrounding Ghana's football landscape continue, Baffour-Awuah's insights serve as a reminder of the challenges faced by local clubs and the imperative for concerted efforts to improve the investment climate and promote the development of football infrastructure in the country.
His candid assessment reflects the complexities involved in nurturing and sustaining a thriving football ecosystem in Ghana, urging policymakers and stakeholders to devise innovative solutions to overcome these obstacles and unlock the full potential of the sport at all levels.
