Ex-GHALCA Chairman Demands Kurt Okraku’s Resignation Over Black Stars’ Decline

Kurt Okraku

Former Chairman of the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA), Kudjoe Fianoo, has called for the Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Okraku and his entire Executive Council to resign, accusing the administration of presiding over the steady decline of Ghanaian football.

According to the former Ashanti Gold Chief Executive Officer, the current administration has failed to live up to expectations since assuming office in October 2019.

“You can give him an excuse in your first four years, or even in your first two years. But if it is not progressing, it is rather regressing,” Fianoo told the media.

“He headed a body that failed to perform. So they should all leave,” he added.

Mounting pressure on Kurt

Kurt Okraku, who was first elected in October 2019 after succeeding the Normalisation Committee that ran Ghana football following the 2018 Number 12 exposé, was re-elected for a second four-year term in October 2023 after running unopposed.

While his tenure has seen some reforms in grassroots and women’s football, the Black Stars, Ghana’s flagship national team, have endured their worst run in recent history.

Ghana has failed to progress beyond the group stage of the last two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, in 2021 in Cameroon and 2023 in Côte d’Ivoire, and for the first time in 20 years, failed to qualify for the 2025 AFCON.

The pressure has intensified following a disastrous start to the 2027 AFCON qualifiers. The Black Stars suffered a 4-2 home defeat to The Gambia in their second Group C match at the Accra Sports Stadium, following an opening loss to rivals Côte d’Ivoire.

The results have left Ghana bottom of Group C without a point from two games, while Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia lead the standings with six points each.

What next for Black Stars?

The GFA has in recent weeks announced technical changes to the Black Stars setup as it seeks to arrest the slump.

The team is expected to return to action in November when they host Somalia at the Accra Sports Stadium in a must-win qualifier to keep their hopes of reaching the 2027 tournament in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda alive.

For critics like Fianoo, however, technical tweaks are not enough.

His call adds to growing voices among former administrators, ex-players and fans demanding accountability at the top of Ghana football.

A Sports Desk Report