President John Dramani Mahama has called for measures to prevent talented Ghanaian footballers from leaving the domestic league too early, warning that the continued exodus of talent is contributing to the decline in the quality of the Ghana Premier League.
The President made these remarks on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, when Ampem Darkoa, Nations FC and Medeama SC paid a courtesy visit to the Jubilee House following their qualification for CAF inter-club competitions.
Addressing the teams, Mahama expressed concern over the growing trend of talented players moving abroad shortly after breaking into the domestic league, particularly when they begin attracting interest from European scouts.
“We are too quick to sell our players. As soon as a player begins to show promise, scouts take him away, mostly to Europe, and that depletes the quality of our local league,” he said.
He further cautioned that the early departure of promising players deprives the domestic league of quality, making it increasingly difficult for clubs to build competitive squads capable of sustaining the league’s standard.
This remains a major concern for Ghana’s domestic leagues, raising questions about the long-term development of the game as clubs frequently lose key players just as they begin to establish themselves and attract supporters.
While transfers abroad provide important financial opportunities for players and clubs, the President believes in a balance that allows young talents to develop sufficiently within the domestic system before moving overseas.
