On Tuesday, August 12, 2025, the air inside the Ghanaman Centre of Excellence in Prampram was ‘thick’ with anticipation.
Delegates gathered for the 31st Ordinary Congress of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), where one agenda item towered above all others: a vote to extend the GFA presidency from two terms to three.
By the time the raised hands were counted, the outcome was decisive, 114 in favour, six against, and three abstentions.
Applause rippled through the room as the majority celebrated what they saw as a progressive change.
But scattered among the crowd sat a small band of dissenters, their faces unshaken, their principles intact.
They were the six who dared to say “No.”
Elloeny Amande — Karela United
Long before the vote, Karela United’s Chief Executive Officer, Elloeny Amande, had already taken his stand.
On radio, his words were sharp and unflinching, branding the amendment a “power-drunk decision” that must be rejected.
For Amande, this wasn’t just another policy tweak; it was a threat to the hard-fought reforms born out of the 2018 Anas exposé, when corruption’s shadow nearly engulfed Ghanaian football.
His warning was clear: longer tenures risk complacency and weaken the accountability the sport desperately needs.
Paul Ayamba — FC Samartex
From Samreboi came Paul Ayamba, Business Development Manager of FC Samartex 1996. His club had just conquered the Ghana Premier League for the first time in its history during the 2023/24 season, a fairy tale rise that could have made him sympathetic to the powers that be.
But Ayamba’s vote told another story, one of a man who believed that governance reforms, not extended presidential stays, should define the next chapter of Ghana football.
King Faisal
King Faisal’s voice has always been loud, and much of that volume comes from their owner, Alhaji Karim Grusah.
Weeks before the congress, Grusah had fired verbal volleys at the proposal, accusing GFA President Kurt Okraku of neglecting youth football.
“Where are the U-17, U-20 and U-23s?” he demanded, questioning the transparency of the process and alleging that some clubs hadn’t even been consulted.
Relegated to Division One in June 2023, King Faisal’s delegate arrived at Congress already carrying a vote of protest.
Ralph Dwamena
From the Bono Ahafo Region came Ralph Dwamena, former chairman of the Regional Football Association.
His opposition was rooted in priorities. “There are more pressing issues than seeking a third term,” he said after the vote, his voice tinged with frustration.
For him, the amendment was a distraction from the structural and developmental gaps holding Ghana football back.
While the dissenters were vastly outnumbered, just six ‘No’ votes to 114 ‘Yes’, their opposition injects a contrasting narrative into what was largely presented as a unifying moment for the GFA.
Whether their resistance gains traction in the months ahead or fades into the background of Ghana football politics, will depend on how the three-term era unfolds and whether the promised reforms for clubs, referees, and the game’s structure truly materialise.
FKA/EB
Meanwhile, watch videos from the 31st Ordinary Congress of the GFA
