Abena Osei Asare, Member of Parliament (MP) for Atiwa East Constituency and former Deputy Finance Minister, has passionately called for increased representation of Ghana Premier League (GPL) players in the national football team, the Black Stars.

Speaking on the floor of parliament, she emphasized the need to appreciate and reward local talent following Ghana's impressive performance in the latest 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

Ghana's Impressive Wins in World Cup Qualifiers

The Black Stars secured two resounding victories in the qualifiers:

• Ghana 5-0 Chad
• Ghana 3-0 Madagascar

These results propelled Ghana to the top of Group I, positioning the team for automatic qualification to next year’s World Cup.

Despite these impressive outcomes, the MP expressed concern over the limited inclusion of local-based players.

“My only concern is that we don’t see a lot of our local players in the Black Stars. Most of the time, it's the foreign players we call, but we have teams like Kotoko, Samartex, and others with very good players,” she stated.

GPL Players in the Spotlight

Only three players from the GPL were called up for the recent matches. Among them, Benjamin Asare, the talented goalkeeper from Accra Hearts of Oak, stood out by starting in both games against Chad and Madagascar.

Benjamin Asare in action for Ghana against Chad. (Photo Courtesy: Hearts of Oak Supporters)

Benjamin Asare was praised for his exceptional performances, raising questions about why more local talents are not given similar opportunities.

“We should appreciate what we have at home. We are calling on the National Sports Authority (NSA), the Ghana Football Association (GFA), and the Minister for Sports to ensure local players are also given the chance to shine,” Abena Osei Asare added.

The Call for Change

The MP’s plea echoes the sentiments of many Ghanaian football fans who believe that more GPL players deserve a chance on the international stage. With competitive talent in clubs like Asante Kotoko, Aduana Stars, and Samartex, the argument is that the national team could benefit from a stronger local presence.

The conversation around local player inclusion has been ongoing, with calls for a better balance between foreign-based stars and homegrown talent.

Should the GFA Listen?

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has often been criticized for overlooking local talents despite the GPL producing exceptional players year after year. With World Cup qualification hanging in the balance, will this call to action make a difference?