I don't share the belief that Ghana will never be able to host the World Cup - Yaw Ampofo Ankrah

Ghana could potentially host the FIFA World Cup in the future if the country embarks on long-term strategic planning and actively seeks regional co-hosting partnerships with its West African neighbors, according to Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA). In an interview with Joy Prime, Ankrah firmly dismissed the prevalent notion that the prestigious tournament is forever beyond the nation's grasp. Instead, he emphasized the importance of engaging in immediate, modest consultations with international football governing bodies to outline structural objectives over an extensive 10 to 30-year timeframe. "Let's simply ask them: 'Hey, we want to host the World Cup in Ghana in 20 years, in 10 years, in five years, or in 30 years. What steps should we begin taking?'" Ankrah remarked. "Let’s approach this with humility and initiate the process. When people claim, 'Oh, Ghana will never host the World Cup,' I disagree. We could potentially achieve this alongside our neighbors." Nonetheless, this ambitious long-term vision encounters significant immediate challenges. FIFA's enlarged 48-team tournament format requires an unprecedented scale of logistics and top-tier stadium conditions. Currently, Ghana's leading venues, including the renowned Accra Sports Stadium, are in poor condition, as noted by Ampofo Ankrah. To address this substantial infrastructure deficit, Ankrah is advocating for stricter financial transparency regarding previous tournament earnings and a strategic shift towards sustainable private corporate investment, all while gearing up for upcoming continental commitments like the 2027 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.