The Acting Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, has conceded that 17 officers recruited into the Authority did not complete the required public sector procedures, following a JoySports publication.

In a statement issued on 25 February, signed by Mr Ankrah, the NSA confirmed that the affected officers, who have reportedly worked for more than 11 months without salary will now be required to reapply for their roles “in accordance with established public service procedures”.

On Monday, Joy Sports reported the Sports Minister had a meeting with the Board and Director General to demand employment and employee data from the Director.

Per Joy Sports intel, the NSA Board had directed Mr Ankrah to revoke the appointments of the 17 staff after it emerged they were recruited without the necessary clearance from the Public Services Commission and the Ministry of Finance; mandatory steps under Ghana’s public sector regulations.

Sources suggested the Board had set an initial 6 February deadline for the revocation following a retreat in Ada, and that this was the second time the directive had been issued.

The controversy deepened amid claims that some of the positions filled were not part of the NSA’s approved organisational structure.

One such role was reportedly that of Chief Operations Officer (COO). There were also allegations that certain newly recruited officers were given authority above existing Deputy Director Generals.

In response to the earlier publication, Mr Ankrah had defended the recruitment, stating that the new staff contributed to Ghana’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

However, the latest statement signals a shift in posture.

Following the reports, the Sports Minister requested comprehensive employment and employee data from the Director General.

While some sources described the directive as one demanding outright revocation of the appointments, officials within the Ministry said that the Minister had asked for full employment records for review.

The 23 February meeting is understood to have resolved the immediate impasse, with Mr Ankrah directed to adhere to the Board’s position and align with due process.

In its statement, the NSA described discussions with the Minister as “cordial, open and solution-oriented”, emphasising a shared commitment to institutional stability and administrative clarity.

With a duly constituted Governing Board now in place, the Authority says steps will be taken to regularise employment in line with applicable regulations.

The developments have unsettled sections of the Authority. Some longstanding staff members claim they have been sidelined, with key operational decisions allegedly handled by newly appointed personnel.

There are also questions surrounding how the affected recruits were being paid, given that under public sector rules, staff are placed on the Controller and Accountant-General’s payroll only after clearance from the Finance Ministry. Checks on their payment arrangements remain unclear.

Per Joy Sports sources, the recruits were paid allowances. Sources also revealed that some of the 250 recruited nationwide about three years ago under Professor Peter Twumasi abandoned posts while others went on study leave.

The Authority currently has about 121 staff at its headquarters alone, while grappling with an overall personnel shortfall estimated at over 400.

Meanwhile, operational challenges persist.

The public address (PA) system at the national stadium remains non-functional, with the NSA reportedly hiring external equipment during matches — a symbol, critics argue, of deeper structural strains.

In its statement, the Authority said it's committed to transparency, governance reforms and strengthening its workforce in collaboration with the Ministry.