When President John Dramani Mahama appointed Yaw Ampofo Ankrah as Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA) in March 2025, many saw it as more than just a political appointment—it was a bold statement of intent. The BBC-trained sports journalist, media consultant, and author has since transitioned from covering sports to administering it, bringing over two decades of field experience in content creation, communications, branding, and youth empowerment through sports.
A Distinguished Career in Sports Media
Ranked among the top 20 African sports journalists, Ampofo Ankrah’s media career has seen him excel as a presenter and writer at Choice FM, Joy FM, TV3, and Metro TV. He has anchored the award-winning BBC Fast Track sports programme, which boasts a global audience of over 42 million viewers. His works have been featured by CNN, ESPN, Sky Sports, and Channel 4.
The seasoned broadcaster has covered major global sporting events, including FIFA World Cups, Olympic Games, and World Boxing championships. He has interviewed and featured some of the world’s most celebrated athletes and sports icons. In recognition of his contributions, he received the President’s Award from the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) in January 2024.
Founder of Beach Soccer in Ghana
Ampofo Ankrah is credited as the founder of beach soccer in Ghana, which is now certified and ranked by ABSU/CAF and FIFA. He served as the first President of the Ghana Beach Soccer Association and was appointed by the Ghana Football Association as Chairman of the Beach Soccer Committee, responsible for managing both the Beach Soccer League and the national team, the Black Sharks.
Academic Credentials
Yaw holds degrees in Humanities and Media from Birkbeck, University of London, and Mass Communications from Universal Broadcast University, New York. He also attended the Ghana Institute of Journalism to hone his communication skills and holds multiple diplomas and certificates in media, sports marketing, branding, and communications.
Leadership at the National Sports Authority
Since assuming office, Ampofo Ankrah has overseen efforts to reposition the NSA as a more efficient and forward-thinking institution, with a focus on governance, infrastructure, and athlete welfare.
Infrastructure Revival
One of his early priorities has been the improvement of sports infrastructure across the country. Upon taking office, he conducted inspections at the Accra Sports Stadium and famously described the venue’s condition as akin to a “crime scene” due to several maintenance and infrastructural challenges.
In response, the NSA has announced plans to acquire pitch covers for Ghana’s major sports stadia to combat ongoing maintenance challenges. The initiative aims to preserve the quality of playing surfaces across key venues, including the Accra Sports Stadium, Aliu Mahama Stadium, Essipong Sports Stadium, Baba Yara Stadium, and Cape Coast Stadium. “We can do well by using the pitch protectors to ensure that we preserve our stadiums,” Ampofo Ankrah told Graphic Sports.
The NSA boss has also reiterated government’s commitment to constructing modern sports stadia in Ghana’s six newly created regions—Western North, Oti, North East, Bono East, Savannah, and Ahafo. “These regions have called themselves the orphan regions for a reason. They believe they’ve not had a fair share of the national cake,” he stated.
Staff Motivation and Welfare
Ampofo Ankrah has initiated a “Staff of the Month” award for workers at the Authority to recognize and encourage hard work. He has pledged to extend the initiative to the regional level. In February 2026, he personally engaged with aggrieved staff and assured them that “nobody here is going to lose their job while I am here,” underscoring his commitment to transparency, fairness, and staff welfare.
Support for Amateur Sports
The NSA Director-General has pledged to push for more resources to be invested in amateur boxing, emphasizing his ambition to see Ghana groom better boxers to compete in the Olympic Games. “My prayer is that we will be able to support grassroots boxing more, because once we are able to do that at the foundation level, the rest becomes not easy but easier,” he said at the Ghana Boxing Federation logo unveiling ceremony.
Ghana Sports Fund Board Membership
In January 2026, Ampofo Ankrah was appointed to the 11-member Governing Board of the Ghana Sports Fund, which was established under Act 1159 to mobilize and manage resources transparently to support athlete development, grassroots programmes, sports infrastructure, and high-performance preparation.
NSA Governing Board Role
He also serves as a key member of the 15-member NSA Governing Board (2025–2029), chaired by Dr. Fred Awaah. The Board has been tasked to pursue bold reforms and deliver performance-driven leadership across Ghana’s sports sector.
A Vision for Grassroots Development
A strong advocate for grassroots development, Ampofo Ankrah has consistently highlighted the need to invest in young talent. His vision extends beyond elite competitions—he sees schools and community sports as the foundation of Ghana’s future success. “Ghanaian sports deserve better infrastructure, better training programs, and a holistic approach to talent development,” he has stated.
Collaborations and Partnerships
Under his leadership, the NSA has explored partnerships with private sector stakeholders to deliver sustainable sports infrastructure. In June 2026, the Authority held discussions with Astroturf Ghana Limited to improve football pitch quality across the country and strengthen grassroots and youth football development. “We believe every young footballer in Ghana deserves access to a safe and professionally developed playing environment,” Ampofo Ankrah said.
Constructive Criticism and Media Engagement
Drawing from his media background, Ampofo Ankrah has called on Ghana’s sports media to embrace responsible and constructive criticism to help grow and protect the country’s sports ecosystem. “Constructive criticism is very important. As much as we’re very passionate about talking about the challenges, let’s also offer viable solutions and build the brand up,” he stated.
The Road Ahead
Ampofo Ankrah has acknowledged that resistance is inevitable as reforms aimed at the long-term development of Ghanaian sports take shape, insisting that opposition from some quarters will not derail the broader vision. Since assuming office, he has worked to rewrite the narrative around poor sporting infrastructure, recover documents related to unfinished projects, and build a comprehensive plan to rehabilitate and upgrade existing sports facilities nationwide.
With a distinguished career spanning sports journalism, media consulting, film production, and sports administration, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah is proving to be a transformative figure in Ghana’s sporting landscape—one who understands both the glory and the challenges of Ghanaian sports.
