Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif has clarified that he was not involved in the appointment of Otto Addo as the head coach of the Ghana Black Stars.
Addo, who previously led Ghana during the 2022 World Cup, took over from Chris Hughton following the team’s early exit from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
During a session with the Parliamentary Select Committee, Ussif explained that the decision to appoint Addo was made entirely by the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
“I had no role in Otto Addo’s selection as Black Stars coach,” Ussif stated. “When it comes to national team appointments, that responsibility lies with the GFA, which has its own technical directorate. The Ministry has no involvement.”
He also emphasized that while it wouldn’t have been inappropriate for the GFA to consult him, the association made the decision independently.
Ussif further urged patience, encouraging the GFA to allow Addo more time to acclimate to his new role, citing Senegal’s coach Aliou Cissé, who has been with his team for six years.
“If it were up to me, I would advocate for giving our coaches more time… If we let coaches familiarize themselves with our philosophy and resources, we will see results,” Ussif added.
The plea for patience arises as Addo confronts criticism after a 1-0 defeat to Angola and a 1-1 draw with Niger in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, positioning Ghana third in Group F with only one point.
