GFA president, Kurt Okraku
Ghana Football Association President, Kurt Okraku has said that significant progress has been made over the past six years despite inheriting the sport during one of its most challenging periods.
Ghana football was thrown into turmoil in 2018 following a major corruption scandal that rocked the administration of the game and led to the resignation of long-serving president Kwesi Nyantakyi.
The crisis brought domestic football to a standstill and resulted in FIFA, together with the Government of Ghana, establishing a Normalisation Committee to manage the sport and implement reforms ahead of fresh elections.
The committee oversaw restructuring and governance changes until 2019, when elections were held, and Okraku was chosen to lead the association as Ghana sought to rebuild confidence in its football structures.
“We took over the sport at a very challenging time. We had lost our president, there were misunderstandings, and we went through a very difficult election period. Just when we thought we would settle, we had COVID for over two years. So it was a very difficult period for the Ghanaian game,” Okraku said in an interview with GFA Media
According to him, unity within the football fraternity has been key to the recovery.
“As a football family, we have united, we have come together, and we have stayed together over time. The result is that we have successfully energised our football ecosystem and reignited passion in club owners, supporters and players,” he added.
Okraku highlighted the revival of grassroots competitions, structured Colts football, expanded academy development through partnerships with FIFA, and free coaching education for colts and female coaches as signs of progress.
He also cited increased support for Regional Football Associations and improved visibility of the Premier League.
“This is not to say there are no challenges. But with the unity we have in the industry, our tomorrow will be better than our today,” he said.
