A Vision for Change in Ghanaian Sports

Herbert Mensah, a man with decades of experience in sports administration, is no stranger to the inner workings of Ghanaian football. As the former chairman of Asante Kotoko’s board from 1999 to 2003, he witnessed firsthand what he describes as a troubling trend: the recycling of personnel within sports leadership. Now serving as the President of Rugby Africa, Mensah is using his platform to advocate for a bold transformation in how sports are managed in Ghana.

In an exclusive interview with Joy News, Mensah shared a candid perspective shaped by years in football and rugby. “The problem with sports— and it’s not just football— is the constant recycling of the same kind of material,” he said. “I’ve been in it, so I get it. I’m not speaking abstractly; I’m talking reality.”

Reflecting on his tenure in football, Mensah recounted his frustration with what he described as “musical chairs,” where individuals simply rotate between various committees without bringing new ideas or solutions. “It amazed me. Someone who was on a welfare committee would suddenly pop up on another, and then another. There was no real change, just reassignments,” he noted.

For Mensah, the solution is clear but far from easy: a complete clearing out of entrenched figures in the system. “To make a difference, you must be willing to stand firm and become Mr. Unpopular. It’s the only way to foster real progress,” he asserted.

Having shifted his focus to rugby, Mensah is now championing reforms in a different sport. However, his message remains a clarion call for all sports in Ghana: leadership must embrace fresh perspectives and innovative approaches if the nation is to excel on the global stage.