Former Ghana international Rev. Osei Kofi has urged Kurt E. S. Okraku, President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), to prioritize the development of the national teams rather than focusing primarily on the business side of football.
The former Asante Kotoko star criticized Okraku for not attending the Black Stars’ AFCON qualifying match against Sudan in Libya.
Instead, Okraku opted to travel to Germany for Ghana's Under-20 friendly matches, which he believes jeopardized the team's chances of qualifying for the upcoming tournament in Morocco following the return leg.
"The Black Stars seem lifeless to me. Just as only those who have attended law school can practice law, the same principle should apply to football administration. Ironically, those currently in charge of our football don't have a deep understanding of the game; they prioritise the business aspects instead and forget about the GPL and other developmental projects,” Rev. Osei Kofi said.
"The president of the Football Association was absent during Ghana's match against Sudan last Tuesday. Instead, he chose to focus on his football business outside the Black Stars game, leaving the management of the Black Stars to others. If he wants to pursue a career as a football agent, he should resign from his position as the president of the association and dedicate himself fully to that path," he said.
"During our peak, we were referred to as the Brazilians of African football. Now, having failed to qualify for the African Cup of Nations in Morocco, we’ve experienced a decline. However, I believe this will serve as an important lesson for us to improve before the next qualifiers. It's truly a shame," he added.