Govt holds key to Otto Addo’s future...Hints GFA spokesperson

The future of Black Stars Head Coach, Otto Addo, remains uncertain as the Ghana Football Association (GFA) initiates critical consultations with key stakeholders, including the government, to determine his fate after the GFA Executive Council (ExCo) was unable to reach a decision during a tense review meeting last Wednesday, leaving the coach’s position in limbo.

The 47-year-old coach is under intense scrutiny following Ghana’s failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco—a historic setback for a nation accustomed to being a tournament regular for over two decades. 

Ghana finished bottom of their qualifying group, failing to secure a single win in six matches against Niger, Angola and Sudan.

Last week’s review meeting, which lasted over four hours, revealed a split within the GFA’s ExCo. While some members argued strongly for Addo’s dismissal, citing his inability to meet key performance indicators (KPIs) and poor team management, others called for patience, arguing that Ghana’s struggles extended beyond coaching and advocated continuity to stabilise the team, urging the FA to give the technical team another chance to rectify their mistakes.

Adding complexity to the decision is the financial implication of terminating Otto Addo’s contract. The government, which funds the salaries of national team coaches, is expected to play a pivotal role in deciding whether the coach stays or goes.

The GFA’s Director of Communications, Henry Asante, revealed that the decision on the coach’s future could ultimately rest with the government, which pays the salaries of national team coaches.

Speaking on Asaase Radio and Joy FM, he explained that terminating Otto Addo’s contract in the middle of his contract would occasion payment of compensation —a financial burden the FA and government are keen to avoid.

He said the FA was treading cautiously due to the benefit of hindsight and the larger implications of sacking coaches under contract, hence the decision to embark on a broader consultative process before deciding on Otto Addo’s future.

The FA spokesperson explained the challenges of making such a decision, citing past experiences where sacked coaches pursued financial compensation.

“After we sacked Milo [Milovan Rajevac] in February 2022, he went to FIFA and won the case against the GFA. The Ministry of Youth and Sports was to pay over $100,000 but was not forthcoming, so the FA ended up paying $117,000 to avert sanctions from FIFA,” Mr Asante said on Asaase Radio.

Similarly, Charles Akonnor, another former Black Stars coach, is still owed compensation, while Chris Hughton’s early termination this year after an abysmal AFCON campaign has financial implications yet to be resolved.

During the ExCo meeting, Otto Addo presented a 56-page report, taking full responsibility for the team’s underwhelming performance while proposing measures to rebuild.

He identified areas requiring urgent improvement and called for reinforcements to his technical staff to address glaring deficiencies.

Despite widespread public outcry and calls for his dismissal, Otto Addo has received support from some quarters. Former Black Stars players and coaches, including Laryea Kingston and Ibrahim Tanko, have urged the GFA to prioritise stability and continuity over yet another disruptive managerial change.

Disturbing pattern

Since 2019, the Black Stars have changed coaches five times—Kwasi Appiah, Akonnor, Rajevac, Chris Hughton, and now Otto Addo.

However, the frequent changes have failed to deliver the desired results, with Ghana’s performances steadily declining on the continental and global stage.

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers set to resume in March, the GFA faces a monumental decision that could shape the trajectory of Ghana’s football.