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Ghana FA president, George Amoako says claims of black magic “juju” has hampered efforts to woo European-born Ghanaian players to represent the African giants at the international level in what has been labeled as a damaging publicity mishap.

The Ghana FA Executive member says consistent claims of black magic being perpetuated by players in the national team is scaring off several talents born in the diaspora.

The four-time African champions are trying to woo Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah as well as Brighton full-back Tariq Lamptey.

But the West African powerhouse have been largely unsuccessful in tempting to persuade several players with Ghanaian roots due to fear of being bewitched.

“There are a lot of perceptions about how Ghanaian footballers play the game,” Amoakoh told Nhyira FM

“Destructive tendencies in the game, those who deliberately want to injure you and cut short your career.

“Then the usual unending speculations, especially about Ghanaian players using ‘juju’ to play football.

“Even those [players in the diaspora] who were raised here and go to Europe to play there, most of them, because of ‘juju’ don’t want to play for Ghana.

“It’s a very big problem we are trying to unravel and make right.”

It has been claimed that several Black Stars players are using black magic to improve their game and maintain their status in the national team.

The superstitious stars pay thousands of dollars to witchdoctors in a bid to find another level, it has been claimed.

The players visit Juju men, where they are shown how to conduct bizarre rituals that are also said to break the curse of injury.