Sannie Daara slams Kurt Okraku for confronting Manhyia South MP in public

Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) Deputy General Secretary Ibrahim Sannie Daara has criticised GFA President Kurt Okraku for publicly confronting Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah during their recent disagreement over the state of Ghana football.

Sannie Daara, who is also a former GFA Communications Director, said Okraku should have responded differently to the lawmaker's criticism and questioned whether members of the GFA executive are doing enough to support the president.

Speaking on TV3, Sannie Daara said he was disappointed by the manner in which the disagreement between Okraku and Baffour Awuah played out publicly.

“I was not happy when I saw my brother openly confronting the MP, a lawmaker of Ghana, in the way he did. And I was asking myself, where are his executives? Is it that they are not happy with him? Is it that the man is driving alone?”

The dispute began after Baffour Awuah called for reforms in Ghana football and criticised the GFA's administration.

The Manhyia South MP accused the football governing body of being controlled by a “cabal”, prompting a strong response from Okraku.

Okraku questioned the MP's football credentials and asked how many football pitches he had constructed for his constituents in Manhyia South.

Baffour Awuah subsequently said his constituency already had three AstroTurf pitches and argued that the discussion should instead focus on the broader challenges confronting Ghana football.

The MP has since continued to call for reforms, arguing that Ghana football has “collapsed under Kurt Okraku's administration”.

Sannie Daara believes the GFA president should respond to such criticism by listening, assessing public sentiment and taking action rather than engaging in public confrontations.

“Kurt Okraku is to listen to himself. Number one, smell the mood in the room. Number two, take decisive decisions based on that,” he said.

He added that criticism from politicians should not be automatically dismissed, particularly as the GFA faces increasing scrutiny over the state of the national game.

Sannie Daara also revealed that he has privately raised concerns with Okraku and urged the GFA president to reflect on the issues being discussed publicly.

“Sometimes I can say it publicly. For the record, the public will know that as a duty, I also, as my brother, I've told him things privately. And then let's reflect,” he said.

He warned that failure to address concerns surrounding the administration could lead to further loss of public confidence and political support.

“We have lost the public already,” Sannie Daara said, calling on Okraku and the GFA executive to reflect on the situation.

The criticism comes at a difficult time for Ghana football following the Black Stars' poor start to their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

Ghana lost their opening Group C qualifier 2-0 to Côte d'Ivoire in Bouaké before suffering a 4-2 defeat by The Gambia in Accra, despite taking a two-goal lead.

The back-to-back defeats intensified scrutiny of the Black Stars and the GFA, with calls for changes to the management of the national team and wider reforms within Ghana football.

Following the two defeats, the GFA and Black Stars coach Carlos Queiroz mutually agreed to part ways.