Benjamin Asare does not deserve best local player award - George Afriyie

Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) vice-president George Afriyie has questioned the decision to name Hearts of Oak goalkeeper Benjamin Asare as the best locally based player in Ghana's 2026 World Cup squad.

GFA president Kurt Okraku announced the award during the association's 32nd Ordinary Congress at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram last Thursday.

Asare is set to receive a JAC Motors vehicle valued at $38,000 in recognition of his contribution to Ghana's World Cup campaign.

But Afriyie believes Medeama midfielder Salim Adams would have been a more deserving recipient and has challenged the criteria used by the GFA to make the selection.

“How many players from the Ghana Premier League made it into the Black Stars, so how did they select Benjamin Asare as the best local player to be rewarded with a car?” he told Sporty FM.

Afriyie argued that Asare's league statistics did not compare favourably with those of Adams, who played a key role in Medeama's title-winning campaign.

“Per my statistics, Benjamin Asare featured in only 19 Ghana Premier League games because he was competing with Solomon Agbasi,” he said.

“Then we had a certain Salim Adams from Medeama who featured in 27 Ghana Premier League games, scored 11 goals, became MVP for eight matches, and gave two assists but wasn’t even invited to the Black Stars.”

The former GFA vice-president said greater recognition for outstanding domestic players was necessary to retain talent in Ghana and improve the competitiveness of the Premier League.

He also questioned the financial disparity between players representing the Black Stars and those who remain in the domestic league.

“Between Benjamin Asare, who went to the World Cup to claim a $100,000 appearance fee and got a winning fee of about $40,000, who got a per diem of at least $1,500, and a man who is in the local league, who should be rewarded?” he asked.

Afriyie cited Medeama's current situation as an example of what he considers a broader problem with the treatment of domestic players.

The Ghanaian champions are preparing for continental competition, but one of their key former players has moved to a Sudanese club and could potentially face his former side in the CAF inter-club competition.

“Now, Medeama, the league champions of Ghana, is going to take part in the CAF inter-club competition, and their best player is with their opponent in Sudan. If you do those kinds of things, how do you want your league to be exciting?” he said.

Asare is expected to return to the Black Stars squad for Ghana's 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in September.