Minister for Sports and Recreation, Hon. Kofi Adams, has instructed the Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, to immediately revoke the appointments of 17 staff members recruited without following due process.
The directive was issued on Monday, February 23, 2026, during a high-level meeting involving the Minister, the NSA Board of Directors, and the Director General. The decision follows reports and internal findings that highlighted serious irregularities in the recruitment exercise.
Key issues raised include:
The 17 appointments were made without the mandatory clearance from the Public Services Commission (PSC) and the Ministry of Finance.
Public sector regulations require all government vacancies to be publicly advertised, with candidates subjected to transparent vetting before appointment and payroll placement.
Certain positions, such as that of Chief Operations Officer, were created outside the NSA’s approved organisational structure and scheme of service.
Salaries for the affected staff were reportedly being processed through unofficial channels, bypassing the Authority’s established financial and payroll systems.
The NSA Board had previously expressed strong disapproval of the appointments and formally requested their reversal. Tensions between the Board and management escalated over the matter, raising broader concerns about transparency, accountability, and adherence to public financial management rules within the Authority.
During the meeting, Minister Adams intervened to resolve the impasse, directing the Director General to annul the appointments in line with the Board’s position and government regulations. He stressed the importance of strict compliance with established procedures for all future staffing decisions to safeguard public resources and institutional integrity.
“Government expects the NSA to operate with the highest standards of transparency and accountability. All appointments must follow due process, including PSC and Ministry of Finance approvals,” the Minister emphasized.
The affected individuals are expected to be disengaged from the NSA payroll immediately, pending any further administrative or legal review. The directive aims to restore order and ensure that the Authority’s human resource decisions align fully with public sector guidelines.
The National Sports Authority plays a central role in the development and management of sports infrastructure and programs across Ghana. The controversy has drawn attention to governance and oversight within state agencies under the Ministry of Sports and Recreation.
No official response has been issued yet from the NSA Director General or the affected staff as of February 24, 2026. The Ministry has indicated that it will monitor compliance closely and take additional steps if necessary to enforce regulatory standards.
