2027 AFCON Qualifiers: Kurt Okraku must resign after Black Stars poor start - Former NSA Board Chairman Seth Panwum

Former National Sports Authority (NSA) Board Chairman Seth Panwum has called on Ghana Football Association (GFA) president Kurt Okraku to resign following the Black Stars' poor start to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

Ghana have lost their opening two Group C matches, leaving them without a point and facing an uphill battle to qualify for the tournament.

The Black Stars began their campaign with a 2-0 defeat by Côte d’Ivoire last Thursday before suffering an even more damaging loss against The Gambia on Tuesday.

Ghana took a 2-0 lead at the Accra Sports Stadium but collapsed in the second half to lose 4-2, prompting widespread criticism of the team's performance and the management of the national side.

Panwum described the result against The Gambia as a "significant setback" and said Ghana could not afford to accept the current situation as normal.

"A significant setback for a national team whose supporters expect Ghana to be highly competitive, especially in Accra," he told Graphic Sports.

"We cannot normalise this."
Panwum, who is also the New Patriotic Party (NPP) spokesperson on sports, compared the current situation with Ghana's home performances during the previous administration.

He cited the Black Stars' 1-0 home victory over Mali in the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign as an example of the team's previous competitiveness on home soil.

According to Panwum, the recent results point to a decline in standards and should not simply be attributed to injuries, suspensions or other challenges facing the team.

"Football will always have injuries, suspensions and difficult circumstances," he said.

"But the difference between Ghana and opponents like Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia is better management, match preparation and tactical output."

The former NSA chairman said The Gambia's victory in Accra should prompt the country's football administrators to reassess the current approach.

"The Gambia came to Accra and defeated Ghana 4-2. That result should compel every serious football administrator to pause and ask whether the current approach is working," he added.

Panwum subsequently called on Okraku to take responsibility for what he described as the current state of Ghanaian football and step down from his position.

"As the NPP spokesperson on sports, I am therefore calling on the President of the GFA to take responsibility for the current state of Ghana football and resign from office," he stated.

He said Okraku's resignation would create an opportunity for a change in leadership and allow Ghana football to embark on a broader rebuilding and reform process.

The consecutive defeats have increased pressure on coach Carlos Queiroz and his players, with Ghana now needing a significant improvement in their remaining Group C matches.

The Black Stars are scheduled to face Somalia twice in October as they attempt to revive their qualifying campaign.

Ghana are seeking to return to the AFCON after missing the 2025 tournament in Morocco, ending a run of more than two decades of consecutive appearances at the competition.