ACCRA, Ghana — For nearly a year, 17 employees at Ghana’s National Sports Authority (NSA) occupied desks, attended meetings, and, according to the agency’s head, helped propel the national football team toward the 2026 World Cup.
There was just one problem: on the official government ledger, they didn’t exist.
Thanks to an internal whistleblower and media reports, the unfolding scandal has plunged the NSA into controversy.
This week, the agency’s Director General, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, was forced into a humbling public concession, admitting that the 17 staff members—including a newly minted “Chief Operations Officer”—were recruited without the legal clearance of the Public Services Commission or the Ministry of Finance.
The Anatomy of a “Ghost” Workforce
The controversy first ignited on February 9, 2026, when internal whistleblowers and media journalist Muftawu Nabila Abdulai revealed that a suite of high-level positions had been created outside the NSA’s approved organizational structure.
According to reports, the NSA Board had asked Mr. Ankrah to rescind the appointments after discovering the recruits had been engaged without the required clearance.
An initial deadline of February 6 for the revocation, following a retreat in Ada.
Sources indicate it was the second time the Board had pressed for the appointments to be cancelled.
Some of the roles reportedly filled are said not to exist within the Authority’s approved organisational structure, including a newly created Chief Operations Officer position.
Sources say new recruits were allegedly granted authority that superseded established Deputy Director Generals, causing deep friction among career civil servants.
Perhaps most startlingly, the 17 individuals reportedly worked for 11 months without a formal salary, surviving on undisclosed “allowances” while waiting for a legal status that never came.
A Defiant Defense
In the face of a direct order from the NSA Board to revoke the appointments by early February, Mr. Ankrah initially remained steadfast.
He publicly defended the hires, arguing that the specialized team was instrumental in Ghana’s successful qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Mr. Ankrah even criticised the story posted on Joy News on his Facebook page, calling the organisation’s reporting on the hires as “fake news”.
However, as the Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, stepped in to demand comprehensive employment data, the Director General’s posture shifted.
By Wednesday, a formal statement confirmed that the “ghost” staff would be let go—only to be invited to reapply through the proper, legal channels.
On Thursday, Mr. Ankrah was seen on video in a Joy News report, calming down staff who were protesting the move.
“Nobody here is going to lose their job once I am here. I will protect you,” Mr. Ankrah said to the protesters.
A Pattern of Disarray
The NSA has frequently been the center of controversy.
In June 2025, the Attorney General announced charges against 12 former officials for a massive payroll fraud scheme.
Although the incident of allowing staff in an organisation does not necessarily constitute “illegality”, it raises questions about ethics and disregard for proper procedures.
At the moment, there is no word on whether there will be repercussions for the Director General following the incident.
The Minister of Sports stated that recruitment into the NSA will be strictly merit-based, with no guarantees that the “former” staff will be rehired.
This article was edited with AI and reviewed by human editors
