Negative narratives are costing Ghana football millions – GFA Marketing Director 


The Marketing Director of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Jamil Marabi has said that persistent negative media coverage is undermining the commercial growth of Ghana football, potentially costing the sport millions in lost sponsorship deals.

In an interview with the GFA media channel, Marabi pointed to what he described as a damaging cycle where sensational and often exaggerated reporting discourages corporate investment in the game.

“If every day we are saying football is dead, football is corrupt, then no one is going to invest in it,” he cautioned.

According to him, while criticism is necessary, the manner in which issues are reported has far-reaching financial consequences for the sport’s development.

“I’m not saying don’t report, but be sensitive. The way it is presented affects decisions of sponsors,” he explained.

Marabi revealed that negative headlines often derail ongoing negotiations with potential partners, weakening confidence at critical moments.

“You could be speaking to a company ready to invest, and then a damaging story comes out the next day. Immediately, you see a shift in their attitude."

“If you destroy the product, no one will invest in it and we all depend on this same product,” he added.

Beyond media influence, Marabi also highlighted structural challenges, noting that Ghana’s economic limitations restrict how much local companies can invest in football.

“You can’t expect a company here to give $20 million. The market is too small, the spending power is limited,” he said.

PAH/JE