Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) Vice President George Afriyie has criticised the leadership of the association after expressing disappointment with comments made by GFA President Kurt Okraku about the country’s recent World Cup performance.
George Afriyie said he was surprised by Okraku’s assessment that Ghana had performed well, arguing that merely progressing from the group stage to the Round of 32 in a major competition should not be considered a major achievement for the country.
Speaking in an interview, the former GFA executive questioned the standards being used to measure success in Ghana football and said the country should demand higher expectations from its football administrators.
“I was shocked when I heard the FA president say that we had done well. Why do we have an FA president who thinks that qualifying from the group stage to the Round of 32 is an achievement?” he said.
Afriyie, who previously served as GFA Vice President before contesting for the association’s presidency in 2019, also questioned the experience and approach of Okraku’s administration.
According to him, Okraku was relatively new to football administration at the highest level and should have taken more time to gain deeper experience before leading the country’s football governing body.
“He was a newcomer. He needed to take his time, go through the ranks, and learn. I think he believed he had already arrived, but he hadn’t,” Afriyie stated.
His comments add to ongoing discussions about the direction of Ghana football and the performance of the GFA under Kurt Okraku, who assumed office in 2019 after winning the presidential election.
Since taking over, the GFA has introduced several reforms aimed at improving domestic football, youth development and national team performance. However, the association has also faced criticism over issues including Black Stars results, player development, youth football development and expectations from supporters.
Afriyie maintained that Ghana, as a country with a rich football history, must set higher targets and avoid celebrating achievements that fall below public expectations.
