Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams has dismissed claims that the government influences player selection for the Black Stars, insisting that the responsibility for choosing the national team rests entirely with the head coach.
His comments come amid renewed public debate following Ghana’s exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where the Black Stars were eliminated in the Round of 32 after a 1-0 defeat to Colombia.
Speaking in an interview on Joy FM’s News Night on Monday, July 6, Adams rejected suggestions that politicians or officials from the Sports Ministry interfere in squad selection.
“You have a duty to let them know that the work of a minister is not to select players,” he said.
The Minister explained that the government’s role is to support football development and work with the Ghana Football Association (GFA) on administrative matters, including the appointment of the national team coach.
According to him, once a coach is appointed, all technical decisions, including player selection, fall under the coach’s authority.
“The work of a minister is to work with the FA to appoint a coach who has a responsibility to make sure he selects the players; that’s why he is paid. That’s why we have the FA, that’s why we have the coach,” Adams stated.
He stressed that allowing government officials to determine who plays for the national team would undermine the coach’s authority and make it impossible to hold the technical team accountable for results.
Adams maintained that the Sports Ministry remains committed to creating the right environment for the Black Stars to succeed by providing the necessary support rather than interfering in football matters.
His remarks follow widespread criticism over some of the squad selections made during Ghana’s World Cup campaign, with fans questioning the inclusion and omission of several players.
The controversy has revived long-standing allegations of external influence in Black Stars call-ups, claims that successive governments and football administrators have repeatedly denied.
Kofi Adams reiterated that the responsibility for selecting the best players lies solely with the head coach and urged the public to hold the technical team accountable for its football decisions rather than attributing them to government interference.
