Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) chairman Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe has raised fresh concerns over the selection of players for the Black Stars, alleging that connections within the football administration are influencing national-team call-ups.

Speaking in an interview on September 30, 2026, following Ghana’s 4-2 defeat to Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium, Nyaho-Tamakloe claimed some players are selected because of their relationships with influential figures within the GFA rather than solely on sporting merit.

“They [GFA officials] have interest in some of these boys, and that is where the problem is coming from. Many of these players get to be called just because of the association with big people in the FA setup,” he said.

“Why don't they stop it?”

His comments came after the Black Stars surrendered a 2-0 lead against Gambia, with Ernest Nuamah and Felix Afena-Gyan putting Ghana in control before the visitors scored four unanswered goals.

The defeat extended Ghana's winless run in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying to eight matches. Ghana also failed to qualify for the 2025 AFCON and have now opened their 2027 qualifying campaign without a point.

Nyaho-Tamakloe: Coach Must Have Full Control

The former GFA chairman also called for greater independence for the national-team coach, arguing that technical decisions should be left to the person responsible for coaching the team.

“Speaking of footballers, or for that matter, players for a national team, they must be left in the hands of the coach alone. That is why they call him a trainer. He knows the boys,” he said.

“He should not be influenced in any way by the FA. I never did that when I was at the FA.”

Nyaho-Tamakloe warned that excessive administrative involvement in technical matters could undermine the coach's authority.

“The moment you focus more on the technical side, you put the coach aside,” he added.

Previous Concerns Over Player Selection

The latest allegations are not the first time Nyaho-Tamakloe has questioned the process used to select players for the Black Stars.

In 2021, he questioned the decision to call up Dreams FC defender Philemon Baffour while Ghana Premier League leading scorer Diawisie Taylor was overlooked.

In 2024, he also raised concerns about what he described as a “cabal” within the GFA allegedly influencing the selection of players from clubs connected to football officials.

Those previous comments, together with his latest remarks, have renewed questions about transparency in the Black Stars' scouting and selection processes.

Calls for Greater Accountability

Nyaho-Tamakloe's allegations come as scrutiny of the GFA intensifies following Ghana's latest disappointing results.

The Minority in Parliament has called for an independent audit covering areas including player selection, scouting and expenditure associated with the national team.

The demands for greater accountability follow a period of sustained frustration over the Black Stars' performances and Ghana's failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Nyaho-Tamakloe's latest intervention places the spotlight not only on results on the pitch, but also on the processes behind player selection and the relationship between the GFA's administrators and the national-team technical staff.

His allegations have not, by themselves, established that individual players received call-ups improperly, but they add to growing calls for greater transparency over how Black Stars selections are made.