Poor infrastructure and inadequate funding are key factors behind the decline of football in Ghana’s Upper East Region, according to Nicholas Ayidah, an Executive Council Member of the Regional Football Association.
Speaking on Dreamz FM’s “State of Our Nation” show, Mr Ayidah said the region has seen a significant drop in the number of competitive clubs, particularly in Division One football.
“Gone are the days when the Upper East Region had four or five clubs in Division One. Today, we are struggling with just one,” he said.
Mr Ayidah attributed the decline to rising operational costs, lack of standard playing facilities and minimal financial returns for club owners.
He cited cases where clubs that qualified for higher divisions were unable to compete due to the absence of approved venues in the region, forcing them to relocate or fold entirely.
“If you qualify and there is no facility to host your matches, you are forced to move outside the region, which increases costs significantly,” he said.
Mr Ayidah also noted that even existing facilities, including the region’s technical center, remain incomplete and below standard.
He called on the government and local assemblies to prioritize sports infrastructure, including completing stalled projects such as the Navrongo Resource Centre, to ease the burden on clubs and revive the game.
