Ghana Premier League players earning as little as GH¢300, MP Edem Agbana reveals

By: Ebenezer Adugyamfi/ Emmanuel Ayiku for GhanaianNewsCanada
September 4, 2026

Concerns over the financial welfare of footballers in Ghana have resurfaced after Ketu North Member of Parliament and President of Nukunu Sports Academy, Edem Agbana, revealed that some players in the Ghana Premier League earn as little as GH¢300 a month.

Mr Agbana made the disclosure in an interview with Sporty FM ahead of the commencement of the 2026/27 Ghana Premier League season, which is scheduled to kick off on Saturday, September 5, 2026.

According to the MP, he recently encountered a Ghana Premier League player who told him that his monthly salary was only GH¢300.

“I met a Ghana Premier League player who told me he’s been paid GH¢300,” Mr Agbana said.

He further disclosed that the situation is not limited to a single player, claiming that some footballers in Ghana’s domestic leagues earn less than GH¢1,000 per month despite competing at the highest level of domestic football.

“There are players who earn less than GH¢1,000,” he added.

Financial struggles facing Ghanaian clubs

Mr Agbana, who is also involved in football administration and club development, said the low wages should be viewed within the broader financial difficulties confronting football clubs in Ghana.

He argued that it would be unfair to place the entire blame on club owners because many clubs themselves struggle to generate enough income to meet their operational costs and adequately compensate their players.

“But who do you blame? You can’t blame the team owners,” he said.

According to him, the economics of running a football club in Ghana remains challenging, with owners expected to finance player salaries, training, transportation and other operational expenses while receiving relatively limited income from the domestic football market.

Low match attendance and poor facilities

Mr Agbana identified low attendance at league matches and inadequate football infrastructure as some of the factors contributing to the financial difficulties experienced by clubs.

“As a team owner, I look at the investment going in, but there is low patronage, and the facilities are not there,” he explained.

His comments highlight a longstanding challenge within Ghanaian football: the gap between the cost of running competitive clubs and the revenue generated by domestic football.

For clubs to increase player salaries, they need stronger and more reliable revenue sources, including improved match attendance, sponsorships, broadcasting income, commercial partnerships and other forms of investment.

Implications for player development

The revelation about salaries as low as GH¢300 is also likely to intensify discussions about player welfare and the future of Ghanaian football.

Football remains one of Ghana’s most popular sports, with the country having produced internationally recognised players who have gone on to compete in some of the world’s biggest leagues.

However, financial difficulties at the domestic level can make it difficult for young players to concentrate fully on their careers, particularly when their earnings are insufficient to meet basic living expenses.

Low remuneration may also encourage talented players to seek opportunities outside Ghana at an early stage of their careers, potentially weakening the domestic league’s ability to retain its best emerging talents.

New Premier League season

Mr Agbana’s comments come just a day before the start of the 2026/27 Ghana Premier League season.

As clubs prepare for another campaign, attention will once again focus not only on the race for the league title but also on the broader sustainability of Ghana’s domestic football system.

The concerns raised by the Ketu North MP add to calls from football stakeholders for stronger investment, better infrastructure, improved commercialisation and measures aimed at protecting the welfare of players.

While the Ghana Premier League remains the country’s top-flight football competition, ensuring that players can earn sustainable incomes will remain an important part of efforts to build a stronger and more competitive domestic football industry.

For now, the claim that some Premier League players earn as little as GH¢300 a month is likely to fuel renewed debate over whether Ghana’s football economy is providing adequate financial support for the players who form the foundation of the sport.