Former Sports Minister Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye has stirred fresh debate over player selection for the Ghana national football team, insisting that no locally based footballer currently meets the standard required for the Black Stars.
His comments come at a time when calls are growing for greater inclusion of home-based players, amid a long-standing preference for Ghanaian footballers competing abroad.
Speaking on Citi FM’s Sports Panorama on Friday, April 3, 2026, Mr. Vanderpuye singled out Benjamin Asare, widely regarded as one of the top performers in the Ghana Premier League, arguing that even he falls short at the highest level.
He cited errors in Ghana’s recent 2-1 friendly defeat to Germany as evidence of what he described as a broader quality gap among local players.
“When I hear calls to include local players, I sometimes laugh. How is it possible? They play like colts players,” he said.
“Who are these local players? The standard is poor. Name three who are good enough to start.”
“Even Benjamin Asare is a problem. He may be the best goalkeeper in the country, but he lacks many things. Against Germany, he came out twice and both situations were disasters” he said.
The criticism comes against the backdrop of a difficult period for the Black Stars, who failed to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), their first absence from the tournament since 2004.
That disappointment follows a winless campaign at the 2023 AFCON and a drop to 74th in the latest FIFA rankings, deepening concerns about the team’s direction and quality.
