Effia MP calls for dismissal of Kurt Okraku, overhaul of Ghana football administration

The Member of Parliament for Effia, Isaac Boamah-Nyarko, has called for the removal of Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Okraku and a complete overhaul of the country’s football administration following the Black Stars’ 4-2 defeat to the Gambia.

According to the MP, the defeat is another indication of the challenges facing Ghana football and should prompt a fundamental review of how the sport is administered and developed.

Speaking in an interview, Mr Boamah-Nyarko said the leadership of the GFA must take responsibility for the national team’s recent poor results rather than allow the situation to continue.

He called for the existing football administration structure to be dismantled and rebuilt, with greater emphasis on developing the game from the grassroots.

“We have to dissolve the GFA. We have to dissolve the Ministry. The Minister of Youth and Sports has to lose his job. In fact, the entire structure of Ghana football has to be broken down and rebuilt, irrespective of whether we would be banned or not,” he said.

He also called for the GFA president to step aside, arguing that the country needs to return to a football development system that gives greater attention to the sport at the district, regional and national levels.

“He should go. No brainer. He should go. They should allow us to go back and see how we built the GFA, where you had sports at the district level, at the regional level, at the national level, the local league finding its place and all of that,” he added.

The MP’s comments follow the Black Stars’ 4-2 defeat to The Gambia in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday, September 29.

The result leaves Ghana without a win from its opening two Group C matches. The Black Stars had earlier lost 2-0 to Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké.

Ghana made a strong start against The Gambia, taking the lead in the 27th minute after Ernest Nuamah converted a penalty.

Felix Afena-Gyan then doubled Ghana’s advantage six minutes later with a free-kick, putting the hosts in a commanding position.

The Gambia, however, responded strongly. Colley converted a penalty to reduce the deficit before the visitors scored again to level the game before the break.

The Gambians carried their momentum into the second half and added two more goals to complete the comeback and secure a 4-2 victory.

For Mr Boamah-Nyarko, the latest result highlights what he believes are deeper structural problems within Ghana football.

He criticised what he described as an overreliance on the achievements of the past to shield the current administration from scrutiny, arguing that Ghana must instead confront the weaknesses affecting the development and performance of the national team.

He said rebuilding the sport should start at the grassroots, with stronger structures at the district and regional levels feeding into the national system.

The MP’s call for an overhaul comes amid growing scrutiny of the Black Stars’ performances as Ghana seeks to recover from its poor start to the 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign.

Source: Sekunde FM