James Kwesi Appiah, an Executive Council Member of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), has urged John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to invest in youth football to safeguard Ghana’s football future.

Ghana went to the polls on December 7, 2024, after which the Electoral Commission (EC) declared former President Mahama as president-elect of the republic, with more than 6 million votes (56.55%).

Per Ghanasoccernet, Appiah who now manages Sudan’s senior national team said Mahama "should try to invest in the developmental level” of football in Ghana.

“If we don't prioritise the future and only focus on the present, there will come a time when we won't have a future.”

“I think that is one of the nation's challenges right now because we depend on what we currently have instead of thinking about who we are developing to take over. We need to focus on that and provide the necessary support," he emphasised.

Ghana recently endured a heartbreaking failure at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers. The four-time AFCON champion for the first time in 20 years will not be partaking in the games, taking place in Morocco.

Following this development, scouting and mentoring grassroots talents for the Black Stars has become an industry conversation, with pundits and football executives arguing more local talents ought to be the foundation of the team, with little call-ups for players in the diaspora.