Ibrahim Sannie Daara, former Communications Director of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and current Senior Media Officer with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has expressed strong reservations about the feasibility of an autonomous league in Ghana.
The proposal for an independent league management emerged after the tragic death of Francis Frimpong during a match between Nsoatreman FC and Asante Kotoko.
The incident sparked widespread outrage and calls for reform, with Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak jointly calling for the GFA to establish an autonomous league as part of broader reform proposals.
However, Daara believes that Ghana lacks the necessary infrastructure to support an autonomous league.
“I don’t think the autonomous league is needed at this time because it is not easy,” he stated on Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show.
“Before it is implemented, you would need CEOs, marketing, sponsorship, and television rights, and at the moment, we don’t have these things in place.”
Daara emphasized that establishing an autonomous league requires a solid foundation, including experienced leadership, robust marketing strategies, and secure sponsorship deals.
He noted that even established leagues like the Premier League and South Africa’s top-flight league have faced significant challenges in implementing autonomous structures.
“It’s not just about saying we want an autonomous league,” Daara explained.
“We need to have the right people in place, the right structures, and the right resources. At the moment, I don’t think we have those things in place.”
Instead of pursuing an autonomous league, Daara suggests that the focus should be on strengthening the foundations of the current system.
This includes improving governance, enhancing infrastructure, and developing grassroots football programs.
By gradually building on these basics, Daara believes that Ghanaian football can achieve sustainable growth and development.
“We need to focus on building a strong foundation for our football,” he concluded. “Once we have that in place, we can start thinking about more ambitious reforms like an autonomous league.”
