Aduana FC General Manager Takyi Arhin has advised Ghanaians not to judge Ghana Football Association (GFA) president Kurt Okraku based solely on the performance of the Black Stars. According to Arhin, Okraku's administration has faced unfair criticism following Ghana's poor start to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign. The Black Stars have lost their opening two Group C matches, suffering a 2-0 defeat by Ivory Coast and a 4-2 loss to The Gambia.
Arhin believes that the performance of the senior national team should be separated from the GFA's broader responsibilities. He argued that the GFA is primarily responsible for overseeing the country's national teams, while the state also has a role to play in funding and supporting them. Arhin stated that it's high time the work of the GFA was decoupled from that of the national team, emphasizing that the GFA is just a custodian of the national team and that all national teams belong to the state.
The Aduana FC administrator praised Okraku for his support for clubs, particularly the recent financial assistance given to teams in the Ghana Premier League. He mentioned that football clubs and administrators are in love with Okraku for the things he has done for them, citing the GHS 1m given to develop their clubs. Arhin maintained that Okraku had performed well in the GFA's core administrative duties and that greater state investment was needed to support the national teams.
Arhin's comments come at a time when the GFA has established a five-member committee to lead the search for a new head coach following the departure of Carlos Queiroz. The committee is expected to submit its report to the Sports Ministry on Friday, 9 October. The Black Stars must now recover from their difficult start when they face Somalia in a double-header in November as they seek to revive their qualification hopes.
The GFA president has faced mounting criticism following Ghana's poor results, with many calling for major changes within the country's football administration. However, Arhin believes that Okraku should not be judged solely on the Black Stars' performance, emphasizing that the state also has a role to play in funding and supporting the national teams.
Okraku's administration has been under scrutiny since the Black Stars' disappointing results, but Arhin's comments suggest that there are other factors to consider when evaluating the GFA's performance. The Aduana FC General Manager emphasized that the GFA is working hard to support clubs and that Okraku has done well in his core administrative duties.
The search for a new head coach is ongoing, and the GFA is expected to make a decision soon. The Black Stars' next matches against Somalia in November will be crucial in determining their qualification hopes. Key to this will be the team's performance and the GFA's ability to support the national teams.
Key points
- Aduana FC General Manager Takyi Arhin advises against judging GFA president Kurt Okraku solely on Black Stars performance.
- The GFA has established a five-member committee to lead the search for a new head coach following Carlos Queiroz's departure.
- The Black Stars face Somalia in a double-header in November as they seek to revive their qualification hopes.
