Professor Emmanuel Osei Sarpong has been appointed Acting Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), returning to the institution weeks after serving on its governing board before it was dissolved.
His appointment follows President John Dramani Mahama’s decision to remove Yaw Ampofo Ankrah as Director-General of the NSA on Thursday, October 1.
Prof. Sarpong was a member of the NSA’s 2025–2026 Governing Board and chaired its Technical Committee before President Mahama dissolved the board on September 2 as part of a wider shake-up involving nine state institutions.
His return places an experienced sports academic and administrator at the helm of the Authority as scrutiny of Ghana’s sports administration and infrastructure continues.
Prof. Sarpong is an Associate Professor of Physical Education and Sports at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), where he also serves as Dean of Student Affairs. His professional background covers exercise and sports science, athlete development, physical education and sports administration.
Beyond his academic work, he has held several national responsibilities in sports development. He has served as Ghana’s National Coordinator for School and Grassroots Sports and has participated in national sports-related committees.
His appointment comes at a particularly important period for the NSA, which has faced scrutiny over the condition and management of major sporting facilities, including the Accra Sports Stadium and Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
The leadership change also follows an ongoing investigation into allegations surrounding an alleged World Cup visa facilitation arrangement. The NSA has denied authorising any visa facilitation or money-collection scheme and said it is cooperating with the investigation.
