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The Ministry of Youth and Sports has distanced the government from superstitious claims linking the Black Stars’ performance against England’s Three Lions in the just-ended 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The reaction follows DUBAWA’s sentiment analysis, which found that the Ghanaian fetish priest Nana Kwaku Bonsam engaged in deliberate self-promotion by claiming he had cast a spell on England’s Harry Kane to reduce his chances of scoring in the match against Ghana.
His actions earned him the ‘Ghanaian Witchdoctor’ accolade on social media, but also positioned Ghana as a country possessing spiritual football powers independent of the Black Stars’ performances at the World Cup.
Speaking to DUBAWA in an interview, the Head of Public Relations and Communications for the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, Bagbara Tanko, dismissed claims by Nana Kwaku Bonsam, insisting that the team’s success was largely due to preparation, discipline, and hard work.
He described claims by the self-proclaimed fetish priest as personal assertions intended to attract public attention rather than legitimate contributions to Ghanaian football.
According to him, while superstition has long featured in African football folklore, such as walking backwards onto the pitch, jumping walls, or sprinkling salt before matches, such practices have no proven impact on performance.
Mr Tanko added that the Ministry considers these pronouncements to be matters of social commentary and self-promotion, arguing that individuals often make such claims to generate publicity and trend on social media.
He emphasised that Ghana’s football philosophy is based on thorough preparation and on-pitch performance rather than on supernatural intervention.
On whether legal action could be taken against individuals making such claims, he indicated that he was not in a position to interpret the law.
He stressed that the Ministry would not take the law into its own hands or infringe on individuals’ rights to freedom of expression.
Mr Tanko reiterated that the Ministry’s position is to disassociate itself completely from claims linking Ghana’s football fortunes to juju or other supernatural practices.
