Veteran Ghanaian commentator Joe Lartey has expressed his views on Ghana's prolonged inability to win the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), attributing it to the mixing of politics and football.
According to the 96-year-old, the divisive nature of politics, especially party politics, has hindered Ghana from securing an AFCON title for the past 42 years.
Ghana's national team, the Black Stars, experienced tremendous success between 1963 and 1982, clinching four AFCON titles during that period. However, since their last triumph in 1982, the team has struggled to claim the coveted trophy despite several appearances in the AFCON tournament.
Lartey believes that the injection of politics into football affairs in Ghana has had detrimental effects on the sport's development and performance.
He emphasized that party politics, in particular, has created bitterness and division, leading to a decline in efficiency within the football system.
“The nose diving of Ghana football… you see, in Ghana, unfortunately, we are injecting too much politics into everything we do,” he noted.
He continued, “It is not just politics, but party politics. It is a divisive element – it creates bitterness, it creates separation, and it blinds efficiency.”