Former Chairman of the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA), Alhaji Raji, has expressed support for Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Okraku, arguing that his leadership has not been as poor as some may think.
Okraku, who assumed office in 2019 and is currently in his second term, has overseen mixed results for the country’s national teams.
While the senior men’s team, the Black Stars, has faced significant challenges—including failing to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and early exits in both the 2021 and 2023 AFCON tournaments—there have been notable successes in women’s football.
The Black Queens, for instance, recently secured qualification for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), which will take place in Morocco later this year.
Despite the criticism surrounding the Black Stars’ performance, Alhaji Raji believes Okraku’s administration should not be judged solely on the national team’s struggles.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show, Raji stated, “I don’t believe that Kurt Okraku’s administration has been bad, and football has not collapsed under his leadership. The main challenge is the Black Stars’ poor performance, but that doesn’t mean his tenure has been a failure.”
While the Black Stars’ disappointing results in recent AFCONs—where they were eliminated in the group stage—and their early exit at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar have placed Okraku under scrutiny, Raji maintains that the GFA President has made important strides in other areas of Ghana football.
