Let Us Rise to Protect the Future of Ghana’s Young Footballers
The painful reality confronting many young footballers in Ghana is one that continues to receive little attention, yet its consequences are devastating. Behind the glamour of match days and cheering crowds lies a silent crisis—players who dedicate their youth to football only to retire with nothing to show for years of sacrifice.
One such heartbreaking case is that of Daniel Anafi Owusu, a former professional footballer who spent over 15 years playing competitive football in Ghana. Owusu began his career with Liberty Professionals’ youth team in 2010 and was promoted to the senior side, where he played between 2011 and 2013. He later joined the West African Football Academy (WAFA) from 2015 to 2018 before moving to Accra Lions, where he featured from 2019 to 2022.
In December 2024, at the age of 35, Owusu officially hung up his boots. Today, after more than a decade and a half of active football, he has no savings, no pension, no insurance, and no post-career support. He received no retirement package—not even a pesewa.
Disturbingly, even at the top-flight level, rewards for success appear grossly inadequate. About four seasons ago, when Accra Lions finished second in the league, the team reportedly received GH₵200,000, while the champions earned GH₵500,000. These amounts raise serious questions about whether clubs can even cover administrative costs, let alone ensure player welfare. More worrying is the fact that some players, including Owusu himself, were unaware of any such rewards reaching them.
The situation is even bleaker in the lower divisions. Gideon Nana Adu, a second-division player with Mid-City Football Club in Kumasi, reveals that players receive no salaries, no feeding, no insurance, and no allowances—only occasional winning bonuses. Accommodation is often the only support, and unless a manager shows personal kindness, players are left to fend for themselves.
The question then arises: What future awaits these young footballers?
After retirement, many become dependent on family members, turning into burdens not by choice, but by systemic neglect. This unfortunate reality echoes a long-standing lament captured in the words of the late Mr. I.K.Y. Nuako: “Yabo ball nanso yennya hwee”—we played football, but gained nothing from it.
Attempts to encourage post-football education are often unsuccessful. Efforts to support Daniel Owusu to enroll at the University of Education, Winneba, to train as a sports teacher yielded no results. In contrast, the late William Abeka, a former Swedru All Blacks player, heeded similar advice, pursued education at the University of Cape Coast, and became a sports teacher before his untimely passing.
Another painful reminder of football’s risks is the story shared by veteran gospel musician Rev. Nimo, whose son—once part of Ghana’s historic U-20 World Cup-winning team—suffered a career-ending leg fracture after moving clubs. With no insurance or institutional support, the entire burden of medical bills fell on the family.
These stories point to a systemic failure.
It is therefore a passionate appeal to the Ghana Football Association (GFA), the Ministry of Sports, clubs, and all football stakeholders to urgently design and implement comprehensive welfare policies. Young footballers deserve structured salaries or allowances, health insurance, and enrollment on SSNIT to secure their future beyond the pitch.
If Ghana truly cherishes its football heritage, then it must also protect the very players who sustain it.
Let us rise up and help our young footballers—before their dreams turn into lifelong regrets.
God bless our homeland Ghana.
Long live Ghana football and its upcoming players.-Apostle D. M. Yeboah
