Former President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kwesi Nyantakyi, has opposed any attempt by the current GFA President, Kurt Okraku, to seek a third term in office.
Recent reports suggest that the GFA’s Executive Council is considering amending its statutes to permit Okraku to run for an additional term. However, Nyantakyi has argued that such a move would be legally untenable.
In an interview with Asempa FM’s Sports Nite, Nyantakyi emphasized that the rules governing the organization should not be altered retroactively to benefit an incumbent.
“You know, I will share my opinion on this matter. I know that laws do not take retrospective action, and so when you are in charge of an organization, you cannot change the rules to favor you. If they change the term limit, Kurt Okraku should not be allowed to contest,” he said.
“He came to office under a two-term limit, and during his term, if the association changes the term limit, he should not be eligible to contest,” he added.
The proposal has also faced resistance from other prominent football figures, including Kudjoe Fianoo, George Afriyie, and Wilfred Osei Kweku Palmer, who have all opposed Okraku’s potential bid for a third term.
Okraku, who became GFA President in 2019 following the tenure of the Normalisation Committee, has had a contentious tenure.
His leadership has been scrutinized, particularly after the Black Stars’ lackluster performances, including consecutive group-stage exits at the Africa Cup of Nations and the team’s failure to qualify for the upcoming tournament in Morocco, ending a 20-year streak of participation.
Despite the challenges, Okraku has celebrated some notable achievements, including guiding the Black Stars to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and spearheading progress in women’s football. Under his leadership, the Black Queens secured a spot at the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations for the first time since 2018.
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