Presidential aspirant of the New Patriotic Party, Kwabena Agyepong, says the current structure of Ghana football, dominated by individually-owned clubs, has led to a loss of community spirit and support for traditional teams.

Eight clubs in the Ghana Premier League 2025/26 season are non-traditional clubs. They are either owned or established by individuals.

Techiman Eleven Wonders, who returned to the Ghana Premier League after three years, were taken over by Richard Attipoe, Oti Regional Council of State member, who purchased Wa All Stars in 2018 and renamed it Legon Cities FC. The club is now relegated to the second division.

Attipoe now funds all the expenses of the club, which has relocated to the capital, Accra.

Speaking to Luv FM, Kwabena Agyepong lamented that this trend has made many teams in the league unrecognisable and lack a clear connection to their supporters.

“All football is linked to community. The problem we have in our Premier League is that there are too many individual clubs now that have been the bane.

“All these so-called one-man clubs. They all had traditional clubs they were supporting. Why can't they go back and support the Hearts of Oak, Okwawu United, Asante Kotoko, Olympics, Hassaacas, Savannah Stars, Agona Fankobaa FC, etc?

“We used to have traditional teams that are linked to community, and sports is supposed to be community-based. There are certain teams in the premiership in Ghana now that by their name, I can't tell where they play, who their supporters are, so it has lost that organic love that human beings should have for football,” he observed.

Kwabena Agyepong also lamented the collapse of the local football economy and called for a strategic revival of the game to harness the passion for football in Ghana.

“Gone were the days when Kotoko was playing in Kumasi, even the State Transport Corporation was making money. They were lining up about 30 buses to send people to Kumasi, those who were selling food, the economic activity around the stadium, the hotels and all that has collapsed.

“Sports can generate jobs, it has a big economy. Look at the English League. Look at the amount of money they are spending in the transfer window. So it's big business, so we have to take a very deliberate stance on rebuilding our game. It’s the passion of our country. Ghanaians love their football,” he said.