Sports Minister Questions Otto Addo’s Coaching Techniques

Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has voiced his dissatisfaction with the Ghana Football Association’s (GFA) decision to retain Otto Addo as head coach of the Black Stars.

Adams insists on further discussions with the GFA to understand why the association kept Addo despite his poor performance record.

Otto Addo, 49, has faced severe criticism following Ghana’s failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The Black Stars, for the first time in two decades, missed out on the tournament after finishing last in Group F, securing just three points from three defeats and three draws. Many fans and analysts have called for his dismissal, yet the GFA has chosen to keep him while making significant changes to the technical team.

Expressing his concerns on Woezor TV on February 13, 2025, Minister Adams questioned the rationale behind Addo’s retention while his assistants were dismissed.

“One wonders why Otto Addo was retained as head coach of the Black Stars considering all the scorecards we have seen,” Adams stated.

“Everyone is wondering what informed his retention and what led to the firing of his assistant coaches while he remained. The answers I have received so far are not satisfactory.”

Adams emphasized the need for accountability and clarity, noting that he will engage with the GFA for further discussions now that he officially holds the Sports Minister position.

“Maybe when I meet the GFA officially, they will be able to tell me why. We need to ensure that the technical team is strong enough to manage the talented and skillful players we have. Our absence from AFCON must not happen again,” he stressed.

Prior to this, while speaking on Metro TV, Adams reiterated his concerns about Addo’s performance.

“Black Stars’ data under Otto Addo is very poor. If we based our decision on statistics alone, there is no way he would have been retained. The GFA decided to remove the entire technical team, yet the head coach was maintained. We need to check whether this decision was based on financial reasons or some form of technical enhancement,” he explained.

In an attempt to revamp the team ahead of the World Cup qualifiers, the GFA has appointed German coach Winfried Schäfer as the Black Stars’ technical advisor and the GFA’s technical director. Desmond Ofei has also joined as an assistant coach, replacing Joseph Lauman.

Meanwhile, John Paintsil and Fatau Dauda have retained their roles as second assistant coach and goalkeepers’ trainer, respectively. The GFA has also introduced Kris Perquy as the team psychologist and Gregory De Grauwe as the video analyst.

Ghana’s next competitive matches will be against Chad and Madagascar in March as part of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Currently, Ghana sits second in Group I, tied on nine points with Comoros after four matches.