Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) Vice President George Afriyie has expressed his disappointment over current GFA President Kurt Okraku’s refusal to resign, citing a perceived lack of self-reflection.
Afriyie pointed to the national team’s poor performance in major tournaments, arguing that this decline is evident in the recent FIFA rankings during Okraku’s tenure.
He also raised concerns about the integrity of Ghana’s top-flight league, alleging widespread manipulation influenced by members of the GFA Executive Council, which he believes undermines the league’s credibility.
In a recent interview with Citi Sports, Afriyie echoed the sentiments of Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) President Kudjoe Fianoo, who previously called for Okraku’s resignation, emphasizing that a change in leadership is essential to tackle the GFA’s challenges.
“I’m saying that elsewhere, if you fail to deliver, you just resign, but that’s not typical of the Ghanaian mindset. So I know that won’t happen; that’s why I won’t even bother to call him to resign because he won’t.
“Those in administration believe they are doing very well, but people like Mr. Kudjoe Fianoo, who has been involved for many years, know how Ghana football has been managed. If Mr. Fianoo says Kurt Okraku has failed, that’s a fact.”
Afriyie further stated, “First of all, they should step back from running the Premier League. The Premier League and the Division 1 League are being manipulated. There are too many manipulations.”
When Kurt Okraku took office in October 2019, the Black Stars were ranked 51st in the world and 7th in Africa.
However, by 2024, Ghana had dropped to 73rd globally and 14th on the continent.
The Black Stars have also failed to secure a single victory in their last two AFCON tournaments, losing to teams ranked significantly lower, including Gabon (84th), Comoros (118th), Mozambique (99th), and Cape Verde (65th).
