Kurt Okraku, President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), has strongly dismissed accusations that the GFA influences national team coaches’ decisions, especially regarding player selections.
This comes after criticism from fans and organizations like Save Ghana Football, which protested following the Black Stars’ early elimination from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast.
Okraku addressed the matter during a Parliamentary Select Committee hearing on Monday, emphasizing that the GFA fosters an environment where coaches can operate without interference.
“They [national team coaches] have publicly stated multiple times about the supportive environment this FA has created for them to work,” Okraku remarked.
He noted that Otto Addo, the former head coach of the Black Stars, has expressed gratitude for the autonomy granted by the GFA to manage the team as he sees fit.
Okraku mentioned, “Coach Addo has publicly shared that one of the main reasons he agreed to return was because he was given the freedom to work in his own way.”
He further clarified that player selection for teams such as the Black Stars and Black Queens is entirely the responsibility of the technical teams.
“The selection of players representing Ghana rests solely with the technical teams of our national squads,” he stated, rejecting any claims of external influence.
This statement addresses long-standing accusations of GFA interference, especially regarding the inclusion of players viewed as underperformers.
Critics have highlighted cases like Baba Rahman’s repeated call-ups despite fan discontent, as well as the omission of players like Majeed Ashimeru and Joseph Paintsil from Ghana’s 2022 World Cup squad, suggesting personal conflicts between Kurt Okraku and certain players’ representatives.
