Ghana FA boss Kurt Okraku responds to ‘Save Ghana Football’ demonstration

Kurt OkrakuGhana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Okraku has expressed his dissatisfaction with the recent demonstration organised by football fans and sports journalists advocating for reforms in Ghanaian football.The protest, held on February 14, 2024, under the banner “Save Ghana Football,” was led by notable sports journalists including Saddick Adams, Patrick Osei Agyemang, and Veronica Commey.This movement was sparked by widespread frustration over the declining standards of football in the country, particularly following the Black Stars’ disappointing exit from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where they failed to progress past the group stage.During a session with the Parliamentary Select Committee on Sports, Okraku voiced his concerns about the protest’s approach.He stated, For the respect we have for this house and for the fact that all of us have a common shared vision to deliver Ghana football the way it has to be delivered. Except ordinarily I wouldnt react because a lot of the people who put this together are people who work for us,” Okraku said.”People who have access, direct access, not only to my good self but the leadership of this FA. They have so many channels not to create the atmosphere they created in this country to address issues which are of grave concern to them.Despite acknowledging the demonstrators’ concerns, Okraku insisted that many of the issues raised were already being addressed by the GFA. He urged patience among stakeholders, suggesting that if they had waited and engaged through proper avenues, they would have seen that their concerns were being managed.While Okraku remains optimistic about the GFA’s direction, he advocates for constructive dialogue rather than public protests as a means to foster change within Ghanaian football.