Sports broadcaster Daniel Koranteng has publicly called on President John Mahama to dismiss Ghana Football Association (GFA) president Kurt Okraku, following the Black Stars' 4-2 defeat to Gambia in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match on Tuesday, September 29. The loss was particularly damaging given that Ghana were playing at home at the Accra Sports Stadium, and it left the Black Stars with no points from two qualifying matches in Group C.
Ghana's campaign got off to a troubled start with a 2-0 defeat to Côte d'Ivoire in their opening fixture. The results have reignited debate about the state of Ghana football, coming shortly after the country failed to qualify for the 2025 AFCON. The prospect of another absence from a major continental tournament has drawn sharp reactions from within the football community.
Koranteng shifted his criticism directly to GFA leadership rather than the technical bench alone, arguing that the association's governance is central to the team's failures. He took to social media to express his sentiments, writing "John Mahama. I think it’s time. Act quick." This public appeal represents a growing sentiment that administrative accountability must accompany any football revival effort in the country.
Kurt Okraku has served as GFA president since 2019. Under his tenure, Ghana football has endured a slump despite securing back-to-back World Cup qualification in 2022 and 2026. The country has not won an AFCON qualifier since September 2023, failing to win a match in the qualification series in eight attempts.
Even at the main AFCON, Ghana's last win at the continental showpiece was at the 2019 edition when the Black Stars defeated Guinea-Bissau 2-0. However, the back-to-back qualifying defeats have intensified scrutiny of Okraku's leadership and the broader direction of the national team setup.
Earlier, Carlos Queiroz had addressed Ghana’s poor run of just one win in 11 matches ahead of the AFCON 2027 qualifier against Gambia. The Black Stars coach admitted the team faces challenges but rejected the suggestion that there is a crisis within the squad.
Koranteng's call on Mahama to act has added to the mounting pressure on Kurt Okraku and the GFA leadership. The Black Stars' struggles have sparked a national conversation about the state of Ghanaian football and the need for change at the administrative level to restore the team's fortunes.
Key points
- Sports journalist Daniel Koranteng calls for GFA president Kurt Okraku's dismissal following Ghana's 4-2 loss to Gambia.
- Ghana's back-to-back qualifying defeats have intensified scrutiny of Okraku's leadership.
- The Black Stars have not won an AFCON qualifier since September 2023.
