The Ministry of Sports and Recreation and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) have agreed to constitute a five-member Technical Search Committee to scout for and recommend a new head coach for the Black Stars.
The committee is expected to submit its report by Friday, October 9, 2026, following a meeting between the Ministry and the GFA on Friday to discuss concerns over the declining performance of Ghana’s national football teams.
In a statement issued after the meeting, the Ministry said the discussions focused on measures to strengthen national team management, coaching structures and Ghana’s football development pathway.
The Ministry acknowledged concerns expressed by Ghanaians over the recent performances of the national teams and said it recognises the growing demand for decisive action, improved performance and greater accountability.
New Black Stars Head Coach
The immediate focus of the meeting was the appointment process for a new Black Stars head coach.
According to the statement, a five-member Technical Search Committee will be constituted to scout for suitable candidates and recommend a coach for the senior national team. The committee is expected to submit its report by October 9, 2026.
The Ministry and the GFA did not disclose the names of the committee members or indicate whether the recommended candidate would be appointed immediately after the report is submitted.
Under the new arrangement, the next Black Stars head coach will be required to reside in Ghana and regularly monitor the domestic league.
This, the Ministry said, is intended to strengthen the monitoring and scouting of players in the Ghanaian leagues and create a wider pool of talent for selection to the senior national team.
The two institutions also agreed to develop a stronger domestic national team through consistent monitoring and scouting of players within Ghana’s football leagues.
Major Changes to Youth Development
The Ministry and the GFA have also agreed to introduce a new structure for Ghana’s youth national teams.
A technical head will be appointed to coordinate the U15, U17 and U20 development pathway, while each age-group team will have its own dedicated technical team.
The new structure will include appropriate competition arrangements and a system for tracking the progression of players through the various age groups.
As part of the restructuring, U18 and U19 competitions will be put on hold after the completion of the ongoing competitions at those levels.
The Ministry said the move is intended to ensure an orderly transition to the new youth development structure.
GFA to Strengthen Collaboration with Schools and Academies
The GFA Technical Directorate will also be required to work closely with the National Schools and Grassroots Sports programme and football academies to strengthen league development and player progression.
The initiative forms part of efforts to create a more coordinated pathway for identifying and developing talent from the grassroots level through to the national teams.
Public Interest Committee to Oversee Reforms
The Ministry and the GFA have further agreed to establish a Public Interest Committee to supervise and coordinate the implementation of the reforms.
The committee will provide an oversight mechanism as the two institutions work to implement the measures agreed at Friday’s meeting.
However, the membership of the proposed Public Interest Committee has not yet been disclosed.
Prampram Technical Hub
The meeting also discussed the relocation of the technical hub to the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence at Prampram.
Changes to the management structure of Ghana’s national teams were also considered.
Under the proposed arrangement, the membership of each national team’s management committee will be reduced from five members to three.
The Ministry and GFA said further discussions would be held to determine the exact structure, with emphasis on clearly defined responsibilities, efficient administration and expenditure control.
FIFA Cooperation Agreement
The Ministry and the GFA are also expected to work towards signing a FIFA-standard cooperation agreement.
The agreement is expected to formalise the respective responsibilities of the Ministry and the GFA and provide a framework for implementing the reforms agreed during the meeting.
The Ministry said the engagements form part of continuing efforts to establish a clear roadmap for strengthening Ghanaian football.
It added that it would maintain dialogue with the GFA and relevant stakeholders, monitor the implementation of the agreed measures and provide updates on progress.
The Ministry reiterated that concerns raised by the public over the performance of Ghana’s national teams remain central to the reform process.
It also stressed that the public’s continued support for Ghanaian football must be matched by sustained institutional action aimed at restoring confidence and improving performance.
The first major deadline arising from Friday’s meeting is October 9, 2026, when the five-member Technical Search Committee is expected to submit its recommendation for the next Black Stars head coach.
