Ghana Football Association (GFA) Communications Director Henry Asante Twum says the decision to invite applications for the vacant Black Stars head coach role was intended to restore public confidence and follow an agreed recruitment process with the Ministry of Sports and Recreation.
The GFA could have approached preferred candidates directly or relied on recommendations, but Asante Twum said the wider public mood had to be taken into account before deciding how to appoint the next coach.
“Every point raised is very valid. However, sometimes you also have to consider the research method you are using to find a solution, especially when you want to restore public confidence,” he said on TV3’s Sports Station show.
“You are dealing with people who, in a way, are tired of a certain style or way of doing things and want you to change. All these are part of the process.”
He stressed that the recruitment strategy was not solely the GFA’s decision because the Ministry of Sports and Recreation was also involved.
“Since the decision was not solely that of the FA and had to involve the Ministry, we had to agree to move in certain directions. We needed to respect that particular approach,” Asante Twum said.
The GFA and the Ministry established a five-member committee to oversee the search for a substantive Black Stars head coach after Carlos Queiroz’s departure.
Rather than limiting the process to direct approaches to selected candidates, the committee opened the position to applicants. Asante Twum said that approach reflected the need for a change in the way the national team’s next coach was chosen.
Kim Lars Bjorkegren, Ibrahim Tanko and Godwin Attram have meanwhile been tasked with managing the Black Stars on an interim basis for their Africa Cup of Nations double-header against Somalia in November.
Ghana are looking for a permanent head coach after a difficult beginning to their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign. The Black Stars have suffered defeats by Cote d’Ivoire and The Gambia.
The appointment will be an important step for the GFA as it attempts to rebuild confidence in the national team and find a coach capable of improving Ghana’s results.
