Youth and Sports Minister, Mustapha Ussif has clarified that he played no part in Otto Addo’s reappointment as the head coach of the Black Stars.
The 45-year-old gaffer was reappointed in March 2024 on a three-year contract, with an option to extend for an additional two years, as announced by the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
Speaking before the Parliamentary Select Committee, Ussif emphasized that the decision to rehire Addo was made entirely by the GFA.
“I had no role in Otto Addo’s appointment as Black Stars coach,” Ussif stated. “National team appointments are the responsibility of the GFA. They have a technical directorate to handle such matters. The Ministry has no involvement in this process.
“While it would have been reasonable for the GFA to consult me, they did not, and because it falls within their remit, they made the decision independently.”
Ussif also advocated for giving Addo more time to work with the team in order to boost their chances of success.
“If it were up to me, I would give our coaches more time. Take Senegal, for example— their coach has been in charge for six years. That kind of time allows for better understanding of the team, leading to results. I strongly believe that if we allow our coaches more time to understand the philosophy and players, we will see success,” he added.
Otto Addo took over from Chris Hughton, who was dismissed following Ghana’s early exit from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast.
However, Addo has come under scrutiny recently after Ghana’s disappointing performance in the September 2025 AFCON qualifiers. The Black Stars lost 1-0 to Angola and drew 1-1 with Niger, placing them third in Group F with just one point.
Angola currently lead the group with six points, followed by Sudan with three points.
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