Former President Akufo-Addo (L) appointed Mustapha Ussif (R) as the sports minister in his tenure
Former sports minister, Mustapha Ussif, has said that the ex-President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s government played a pivotal role in uplifting women’s football in the country.
He explained that during the COVID-19 pandemic period, when football activities were put on hold, the then government provided a stipend to team mates of the women’s teams in the country.
The Member of Parliament for Yagaba-Kubori Constituency noted that it helped the players stay fit and that numerous AstroTurfs were built for the Ghana Women’s Premier League matches as a result of the initiative.
Speaking in Parliament on July 29, 2025, Ussif called on the public to commend former President Akufo-Addo for his investment in women’s football, leading to the Black Queens’ success.
“Mr Speaker, we shouldn’t also forget that when COVID-19 happened, for the first time in the history of Ghana, His Excellency President Nana Akufo-Addo ensured that all Women’s Premier League players were put on stipends and they were paid. Most of these players are beneficiaries of those stipends.
“The numerous AstroTurfs that His Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo also constructed across Ghana, served as training grounds for most of the Women’s Premier Clubs, and this is the result of the successes that we are talking about,” he said.
The former minister admonished the incumbent government to continue investing in sporting infrastructure to improve the fortunes of football in the country.
“I want to urge them that the government should continue to ensure that the initiative of getting every district a befitting sports facility doesn’t become a thing of the past,” Ussif added.
The remarks come following the Black Queens’ feat of securing the bronze title in the 2024 Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after beating South Africa to finish third.
Watch Ussif’s remarks below:
“The Npp government under Nana Akufo-Addo laid the foundation for the success of the Black Queens” – Hon. Mustapha Ussif, Member of Parliament for Yagaba-Kubori Constituency.#3Sports pic.twitter.com/xMoihqWv7e
— #3Sports (@3SportsGh) July 29, 2025
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