The Influence Of Foreign Football Leagues On The Popularity Of Domestic Football In Ghana: Examine How The Growing Popularity Of Foreign Football Leagues Has Affected The Popularity And Viewership Of Domestic Football In Ghana

Abstract

This study explored how the growing popularity of foreign football leagues, particularly the English Premier League (EPL), has affected Ghanaian football fans’ consumption of domestic football, media habits, and support for the Ghana Premier League (GPL). Using a qualitative descriptive design, data were collected through in-person semi-structured interviews with 12 key stakeholders in Ghana’s football ecosystem, including club administrators, Ghana Football Association (GFA) officials, football journalists, and leaders of supporters’ unions. The data were analyzed thematically using NVivo 12 software. Findings revealed that domestic football consumption in Ghana has declined significantly, with low attendance, weak fan engagement, and inconsistent viewership. The dominance of foreign leagues, especially the EPL, has overshadowed the GPL through superior branding, media presence, and production quality. Structural issues such as poor infrastructure, weak governance, ineffective marketing, and low-quality broadcasting were identified as key contributors to the GPL’s decline. The study concluded that the loss of interest in domestic football is influenced by a mix of managerial, structural, and cultural factors, compounded by globalization and digital media trends that have reshaped fan identity. It recommended that the GFA and Ministry of Youth and Sports invest in stadium infrastructure, improve governance and transparency, enhance broadcasting quality, and adopt modern marketing and fan engagement strategies to revitalize the Ghana Premier League and restore national pride in local football.