Sports
Pushing for greater visibility for Ghana football
New Ghana Premier League champions, Samartex
Football is more than just a sport.
In Ghana, the love and passion for football is undeniable. Without doubt, it is the most prominent sport in the country. Football development is crucial for the nation’s progress because it has the capacity to boosts the various local economies.
It is for this reason that institutions in society, especially the media must play active roles in its development and promotion in Ghana.
In the early days of Ghanaian football, newspapers such as the Gold Coast Gazette, Commercial Intelligencer, and The Accra Herald extensively covered local matches and players, and many others to boost the players’ profiles.
As football’s popularity surged, coverage expanded with papers like the Daily Graphic, The Ghanaian Times, and Ghana Sports featuring match reports, player profiles, and analyses, which provided a platform for local talent to shine.
However, examining the current state of local football in Ghana’s media landscape reveals a decline in coverage. This underrepresentation negatively impacts the already struggling local football in Ghana.
First and foremost, the lack of media attention discourages young talents because it would be difficult for them to be noticed by coaches and agents.
In an interview with Joshua, a division three player at Play like a Pro Academy, revealed that playing football in Ghana was not easy and local players face several obstacles.
He said, “One of the biggest challenges is that we don’t get recognised. We play well, but no one knows about it.”
Also, Giovanni Frank Gyan, a 25-year old professional footballer who currently plays for the Future Soccer Academy, underscored the importance of media coverage in marketing their skills.
He said it was unfortunate the Ghanaian media was focused on promoting foreign football stars instead of the local talents, explaining that while they look up to foreign players as role models, the local media should focus more on promoting young and upcoming footballers like himself.
The impact extends beyond players, affecting numerous local coaches as well. These coaches, who are key stakeholders in the industry and play a crucial role in nurturing talent for the sport’s development, often become discouraged from continuing their careers because their efforts are insufficiently recognised by the Ghanaian media.
The current state of local football coverage calls for immediate and concerted action.
‘Professor’ Enock Kwesi Wallace, Head of Sports at Adom FM and a seasoned Sports Journalist with Asempa FM, shared this view on the challenges facing local football and the measures necessary to promote its reportage in Ghana.
According to him, the media’s selection of football stories is guided by journalism ethics and values, prominence, proximity, and national issues.
Prof. Wallace further emphasised that the media is a commercial entity that attracts sponsors, and added that it is not their responsibility to seek sponsors for local sports men and women.
Instead, he suggested that the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and local teams should make themselves more accessible; utilise various stakeholders; advertise; and implement e-ticketing to promote themselves.
To increase visibility and accessibility, Mr Wallace further proposed partnership with churches, as seen in Nigeria and Congo Brazzaville, where football clubs were established by churches. This innovative approach, he said, can bridge the gap between local sports and the community.
In essence, promoting local football requires a collective effort from all stakeholders; the media, GFA and sponsors. These stakeholders must work together to give local football teams the recognition they deserve.
In conclusion, the underrepresentation of local football in the media poses a significant national concern that demands urgent action. Therefore, the media must assume the essential responsibility of delivering regular, thorough, and captivating football coverage. It is crucial for all stakeholders to unite in backing our local football talents, ensuring that the sport flourishes for future generations.
*The author is a student of the University of Media, Arts and Communication- Institute of Journalism (UniMAC-IJ) Faculty of Journalism and Media Studies.
Email: a.augustina020@gmail.com
By Augustina Dede Anang