A group of concerned football supporters led by the Ghana National Supporters Union (GHANSU) President, Mr.Abraham Boakye, have called for the resignation of the President of the Ghana Football Association(GFA), Mr. Kurt Okraku and the FA’s Executive Council for what they term as poor management of football.
The group, with support from gospel musicians, Nicolas Omane Acheampong and Isaac KwadwoAmpong, have hinted of a demonstration on February 22, awaiting approval from the Ghana Police Service.
Addressing a news conference on Wednesday, Mr. Abraham Boakye said that would be the maiden protest by football fans against the GFA since 1958 when Ghana joined football’s global governing body, FIFA.
The group cited betting scandals, Ghana’s disastrous African Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign and failure to deliver on Ghana Premier League (GPL) sponsorship promise as issues the GFA President had failed on, warranting his resignation.
They also alleged that the choice of ex-Ghanaian international, Otto Addo, to handle the World Cup play-off against Nigeria, questionable national team call-ups especially Black Stars and the GFA President’s posture and utterances after the botched AFCON show smacked of arrogance and did not deem him fit for the office.
Mr. Boakye, popularly referred to as ‘One-man supporter’ insisted the actions of Kurt and the ExCo exemplified an administration that had reneged on its promise to football loving fans to protect and advance the course of football.
“When there was an alleged betting investigation into the game between Ashantigold and Inter Allies last season where the Allies player who scored an outrageous own goal confessed to a betting ploy pushing him into scoring such a goal, what happened?
“Also the GFA President, promised to deliver a title sponsorship for the GPL in no uncertain terms during his campaign but he has failed in that regard three years into his administration.”
He continued: “Presiding over Ghana’s worse AFCON campaign, the questionable call-ups at the Black Stars and insistence on an inexperience coach such as Otto Addo to lead the World Cup play-off against Nigeria and subsequent posture and comments in the face of Ghana’s humiliating campaign depicts a leader who was clearly at his wits end and must call it quits.”
Mr. Nicholas Omane Acheampong, who described himself as a passionate football fan, said football was a uniting point for all Ghanaians but that phenomenon was ebbing away under Kurt’s administration since he has not proved himself a uniting factor.
He also pointed out that the GFA President’s failure to apologize to disappointed Ghanaians on the disastrous AFCON performance spelt out a leader who was dismissive to the national duty and accountability he owed Ghanaians and therefore unworthy of the position.
Mr. Isaac Kwadwo Ampong, said the future of football in the country looked bleak under Kurt’s administration contrary to what he had promised and therefore his continuous stay risked a damage beyond repair for the sport.
BY NANA BENTSI ODURO
