Ghana Football Association (GFA) President, Kurt Okraku, has defended the decision to maintain the management committees for the country’s national football teams, citing the specialised needs of each team as the primary justification.
His comments were in response to a petition submitted by the “Save Ghana Football” demonstration in February, which called for a reduction in the number of management committee members across Ghana’s national teams among other things.
The petitioners raised concerns over the costs involved, particularly after reports surfaced that members of the Black Stars’ management committee pocketed $100,000 each during the team’s 2022 World Cup campaign—a sum higher than the Ghana Premier League’s prize money.
Addressing Parliament’s Sports Select Committee on Monday, September 30, Okraku highlighted the critical role these committees play in the successful management of the teams.
“Currently, we have 20 national teams, and each has specific needs that require specialized attention. It’s important to find the right people with the right skill set and passion to manage these teams effectively,” Okraku stated. He emphasized that management committee members remain just as relevant today as they were in the past, playing an essential role in guiding the teams.
Okraku, alongside GFA Vice President Mark Addo and General Secretary Prosper Harrison Addo, was present in Parliament to respond to concerns raised in the petition.
Despite calls to streamline the management structure, Kurt Okraku insists that the current setup is crucial for the national teams’ operations and success.
