Ghana's Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams has stated that the government lacks the legal authority to dissolve the Ghana Football Association (GFA). His comments come amid growing public demand for the GFA to be torn down following the Black Stars' poor start to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series. The Black Stars lost 2-0 to Côte d'Ivoire and 4-2 to The Gambia, intensifying calls for change.
According to Adams, the GFA is a legally registered entity that cannot be shut down by government fiat. He likened the association to a private company registered to exist in perpetuity, arguing that it can only be dissolved if it has committed an offence against its administrative rights. Adams emphasized that the government does not have the power to dissolve the GFA.
The minister's comments have sparked renewed scrutiny of GFA president Kurt Okraku's leadership. Okraku's six-year tenure has come under examination, particularly in light of the Black Stars' recent performances. The Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) has also called for the GFA leadership to either reverse the decline or step aside.
Adams stressed that the government is not powerless in its dealings with the GFA. He noted that the national teams supervised by the association represent the country and receive public funds. Adams pointed to FIFA's Standard Corporate Agreement, which allows the government to maintain a formal relationship with the GFA as a funder of football.
The government's current focus is on ensuring that existing accountability structures, including the public interest committee, function properly. Adams maintained that the GFA remains a registered body that pays taxes and cannot be dissolved on that basis alone.
However, Adams left open the possibility of government action if GFA officials are found to have used their positions to commit a crime. In such cases, he said the necessary rules would apply, although he did not elaborate on what these rules would entail or who would enforce them.
The future of Ghana's football administration remains uncertain, with no confirmed head coach following Carlos Queiroz's departure. The GFA has not issued a public response to Adams' comments or SWAG's call for leadership change. The situation is being closely watched by stakeholders, who are eager to see how the crisis will be resolved.
Key points
- The Ghana government has no legal power to dissolve the Ghana Football Association.
- The GFA is a legally registered entity that can only be dissolved if it has committed an offence against its administrative rights.
- The government is focusing on ensuring accountability structures within the GFA function properly.
