Kennedy Boakye-Ansah (L) with Guide Radio’s Osei Bonsu
Chief Executive Officer of Nations Football Club, Kennedy Boakye-Ansah, has blamed sections of the Ghanaian media for the declining patronage of the Ghana Premier League, accusing them of failing to promote the local game with the same energy devoted to foreign football.
Speaking on Guide Sports Extra hosted by Ben Osei Bonsu on Guide Radio 91.5 FM, BoakyeAnsah said persistent negative narratives around the domestic league have gradually pushed fans away from local football.
According to him, the language and tone used on certain sports programmes have created the perception that the Ghana Premier League is inferior and not worth following.
The Nations FC boss, who is also an experienced journalist, disclosed that he has stopped listening to some sports shows entirely because of how the local game is discussed.
“I don’t listen to some of these programmes anymore,” Boakye-Ansah stated. “Not because I don’t love football, but because of how our local league is constantly run down. When you keep telling people the league is not good enough, they will stop watching and attending matches.”
To support his argument, Boakye-Ansah cited veteran sports journalist Kwabena Yeboah as an example of how effective media promotion can elevate local talent.
He recalled how Yeboah consistently highlighted and promoted Ishmael Addo when the striker burst onto the domestic football scene.
According to him, the sustained media attention helped turn Addo into a household name and boosted interest in local football at the time.
He noted that Ishmael Addo’s rise showed how storytelling, analysis, and consistent coverage can shape public perception and generate excitement around homegrown players.
Boakye-Ansah argued that similar effort is now missing in the coverage of the Ghana Premier League. He said many talented players perform well weekly but fail to gain recognition because their stories are not told.
While admitting that clubs and administrators must also improve their operations and engagement, he stressed that the media wields enormous influence. He urged journalists to balance criticism with promotion and to take pride in telling positive local football stories.
Boakye-Ansah concluded that reviving fan interest in the Ghana Premier League requires a collective effort, warning that without supportive media narratives, stadium attendance and commercial growth will continue to suffer.
BY Wletsu Ransford