Make The Laws, Let Football People Be

When I read the recent comments by the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Lawyer Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, that Ghana football has collapsed under the leadership of Ghana Football Association President Kurt Edwin Simeon Okraku, I asked myself a simple question:

Have we really taken a proper look at the entire picture?

The MP is entitled to his opinion, and nobody should be prevented from criticising the administration of Ghana football. Football is too important to this country for anybody to be above scrutiny.

But when we describe the entire game as having “collapsed”, then we must be prepared to look at the facts, both the problems and the things that have been done.

And that is where I believe the current debate is missing something.

Under Kurt Okraku, Ghana football has certainly had its difficult moments. There have been disappointing performances, concerns about the domestic game and legitimate questions about how to make our leagues more competitive and financially sustainable.

But to say that nothing is happening is another matter altogether.

Take the issue of transportation for clubs.
In 2024, the GFA fulfilled a pledge made by Kurt Okraku by presenting buses to nine Division One League clubs. The clubs were the top three finishers from each of the three zones of the Division One League. The stated purpose was to reduce the transportation burden on clubs and improve their operational capacity.

That may not solve every problem facing the Division One League, but it is a practical intervention.

The initiative was also extended to women's football, with buses presented to Ampem Darkoa Ladies and Hasaacas Ladies, the two zonal winners of the 2023/24 Women's Premier League.

So when I hear that Ghana football has simply “collapsed”, I keep going back to these things.

Where were we when these buses were being provided?

Where were we when clubs that had struggled with transportation were receiving support?

Should these interventions suddenly become irrelevant because we have disagreements with the GFA President?

I don't think so.
There is another area that deserves attention, the support being provided to clubs.

At the GFA's 32nd Congress in August 2026, the Association announced that each of the 48 Division One League clubs would receive GH¢120,000, while the GFA would continue to absorb referees' and Match Commissioners' fees. Each club would also receive 30 footballs.

For the Women's Premier League, the GFA announced GH¢100,000 for each of the 20 clubs, together with 30 pairs of football boots and continued coverage of referees' and Match Commissioners' fees.

Again, nobody should pretend these measures have solved every problem.

They haven't.
But they are evidence that the administration is doing something.

And this is precisely why our football debate must be more balanced.

Kurt Okraku has made youth development one of the areas of focus of his administration. The GFA has three Elite Football Academies and has reported investment in their management and development. The objective is to provide young footballers with structured football training alongside education and create a pathway towards professional and national team football.

There has also been the “Power to the Youth” initiative.

The programme was designed to give greater opportunities to young Ghanaian players by encouraging clubs to include more young players in their matchday squads.

These are the kinds of things that should form part of the national conversation.

Not because Kurt Okraku should be protected from criticism, but because criticism should be based on the whole picture.

And then there is the organisation of the domestic calendar.

At the GFA's 32nd Congress, the Association reported that it had organised its domestic competitions for seven consecutive seasons without major disruptions. The Association also pointed to increased television coverage and improvements in matchday protocols.

The GFA further reported increased production and broadcast of domestic league matches through different platforms.

Again, people may disagree about whether the quality of the football is where it should be.

That is a legitimate discussion.
But there is a difference between saying “we need to do better” and saying “everything has collapsed.”

The first is a challenge.
The second requires considerably more evidence.

I am particularly uncomfortable when football administration becomes reduced to political commentary.

Members of Parliament have a legitimate role in national development. They can raise concerns, demand accountability and push for policies that benefit their constituents and the country.

But football is also a specialised field.
People who have spent years working in football administration, coaching, refereeing, scouting, club management and player development have knowledge that should not simply be brushed aside.

This is why I say: make the laws, but let football people be.

If Parliament believes the laws governing Ghana football need to change, Parliament should make that case.

If government believes football infrastructure needs more investment, government should provide the resources.

If an MP believes the GFA has failed in a particular area, let the evidence be presented and debated.

But the solution to every problem in football cannot be to bring politics into the dressing room.

Ghana football needs politicians, administrators, former players, coaches, sponsors, journalists and supporters to work together. None of these groups can fix the game alone.

And yes, Kurt Okraku must answer questions about his administration.

He should.
He is the GFA President.
But accountability should work both ways. If we are going to examine his failures, we should also acknowledge the initiatives that have taken place under his watch.

That includes the bus acquisition programme.
It includes financial and logistical support for Division One and Women's Premier League clubs.

It includes investment in youth academies.
It includes efforts to increase opportunities for young players.

It includes continued organisation of domestic competitions.

It includes the expansion of broadcast coverage.

These things do not mean Ghana football is perfect.

Far from it.
There are serious issues that still require attention, and pretending otherwise would be dishonest.

But football is not a one man project. Kurt Okraku did not inherit a perfect system, and he will not leave behind one. The responsibility of improving Ghana football belongs to the entire football community.

So, Lawyer Baffour Awuah can criticise Kurt Okraku.

That is his right.
But before we tell Ghanaians that their football has collapsed, we should also tell them about the buses that went to clubs, the financial support going to the lower leagues and women's football, the academies being funded and the youth programmes being introduced.

Let us criticise where criticism is due.
Let us demand more where more is needed.
But let us not erase everything that has been done simply because we are unhappy with the current state of Ghana football.

The debate should not be about protecting Kurt Okraku.

It should be about telling the truth about Ghana football.

And sometimes, telling the truth means admitting that there are problems while also acknowledging that there has been progress.

Make the laws. Provide the support. Let football people do football.