Former Managing Director of Hearts of Oak, Neil Armstrong-Mortagbe, emphasized that the responsibility of rebuilding Ghana's football should extend beyond the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
His comments followed the dismissal of Chris Hughton due to the Black Stars' disappointing performance at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast.
In a statement released on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, the GFA announced the dissolution of the technical team of the Black Stars by the executive council.
Addressing the matter on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Wednesday, January 24, Armstrong-Mortagbe stressed the need for collaboration among various stakeholders to address the country's declining football fortunes.
He highlighted the importance of involving both the Ghana Football Association and the state in charting a sustainable course for the sport.
Reflecting on historical successes, Armstrong-Mortagbe referenced the collaboration between Kwame Nkrumah and Ohene Djan, asserting that a similar approach in the modern context would be beneficial for Ghana's football.
“What does Ghana, as a nation seek or want to do with its football? The Ghana Football Association cannot do this in isolation,” he said.
“It must be done in conjunction with the state. You spoke about Kwame Nkrumah and Ohene Djan; that was the state working in partnership with football leadership to lead us to the height that we saw. We need to take a lesson from that model, bring it to the modern context and I believe we will be fine,” Armstrong-Mortagbe added.
In response to the situation, the Ghana FA announced the formation of a five-member committee tasked with finding a new head coach for the Black Stars within the next three weeks.