George Afriyie questions Kurt Okraku over implementation of Colts football promises
Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) presidential candidate George Afriyie has questioned the implementation of Kurt Okraku’s manifesto promises on Colts football and grassroots development.
Afriyie, who lost to Okraku in the 2019 GFA presidential election, challenged the GFA president to account for the number of game centres and improved pitches delivered under his “GameChanger” manifesto.
Speaking to Sporty FM, Afriyie said Okraku had made several commitments to improve Colts football but questioned whether they had been fully implemented.
“In Kurt's own manifesto, he has some fine ideas. See, let me tell you what he said in Colts football. He says, create game centres with improved pitches and 50 balls per season,” Afriyie said.
“So, how many game centres has Kurt created? The answer to your question lies here.
“That is why I told you from the very day I sat here with you, that if Kurt is to go by his own manifesto, if he is to implement the things that he says, if you vote me into power, this is what I'm going to do.”
Afriyie also welcomed Okraku’s reported proposal for state-owned football pitches to be made available to Colts clubs, describing the idea as a positive one.
“I heard Kurt replying that, oh, how many pitches has he built in his constituency? And that he went further to say that we should make pitches across the country, the ones built by the state institutions, free for Colts football,” he said.
“Brilliant idea, because I said it here. Remember when I said here, that the GFA should be able to convince those institutions to take and manage it on their behalf.”
However, he insisted that Okraku must also be held accountable for the infrastructure commitments contained in his own manifesto.
“But I'm asking Kurt, in seven years, how many pitches have you built? For the centres that you talk about in your manifesto, Colts football, how many have you built?” Afriyie asked.
He also questioned the implementation of a proposal requiring Ghana Premier League clubs to establish links with Colts clubs and take responsibility for developing young players.
“He says that every Premier League club is to be affiliated with a Colts Club. So every Premier League club must adopt a certain Colts Club,” Afriyie said.
While acknowledging that the directive had been communicated to Premier League clubs, Afriyie questioned whether it had resulted in meaningful grassroots development.
“I've seen it, that kind of message, or that kind of instruction, has been given to the Premier League clubs,” he said.
“But you have to ask yourself, when was the last time you went to see Hearts of Oak or Kotoko having a Colts Club, where it is Kotoko's duty to develop that Colts Club, nurture them? Is it being done? The answer is no.”
Afriyie described the proposal as a “very brilliant idea” but said its success depended on effective implementation.
Okraku’s 2019 “GameChanger” manifesto included plans to revive Colts football, establish a central fund for juvenile and Colts football, provide logistical support to clubs and improve football infrastructure across the country.
The GFA has since highlighted several investments in Colts football, including an annual US$100,000 allocation for footballs, GHS1.8 million spent over two seasons to train 600 Colts coaches, and free registration and digital licences for up to 90 players per Colts club.
The Association also launched the 2026/27 Colts season in September, reporting 859 active Colts clubs across Ghana’s 10 football regions, alongside new competitions and support programmes.