Black Stars: There is no need for a search committee to recommend Carlos Queiroz's successor - Geoege Afriyie

Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) vice-president George Afriyie has questioned the decision to establish a committee to find the next Black Stars head coach.

The five-member committee, chaired by former GFA vice-president Fred Pappoe, was formed following the departure of Carlos Queiroz after Ghana's poor start to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

The committee, which also includes former Black Stars captain Stephen Appiah, Anthony Baffoe, Faisal Chibsah and Agbesi Kwadzo Dzakpasu, is expected to submit its recommendations on Friday, 9 October.

However, Afriyie believes the GFA should have already identified suitable coaching candidates through long-term planning rather than starting the process after Queiroz's departure.

Speaking on Sporty FM, he cited France, Ivory Coast and Senegal as examples of countries that, in his view, had prepared potential options before appointing new coaches.

“Now, I personally think that there was no need for the formation of a committee at this level,” Afriyie said.

He argued that France had already carried out background checks on potential replacements before Didier Deschamps' departure, with former France midfielder Zinedine Zidane among the candidates.

Afriyie also pointed to Ivory Coast's decision to bring in Herve Renard, saying the country already had knowledge of the coach because of his previous work with the national team.

He further cited Senegal's reported consideration of former France international Patrick Vieira as evidence of a more structured approach to succession planning.

According to Afriyie, Ghana should have a standing pool of coaches who can be considered whenever the Black Stars job becomes vacant.

He, however, rejected attempts to blame Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Iddie Adams for the current situation, insisting that the responsibility for appointing the national team coach lies primarily with the GFA.

“But I don't blame the minister. I don't really want to blame the minister. The problem is not the minister's problem. The problem, it's GFA's problem,” he said.

Afriyie also dismissed suggestions that the Ministry of Sports has been heavily involved in the appointment of Black Stars coaches since Kurt Okraku became GFA president.

“Because it is the duty of the GFA to get us a coach. And they have gotten a coach from since Kurt came up to now,” he said.

“I hear people trying to say, ‘Oh, each time the ministry is involved.’ The ministry is by way of information, trust me. The ministry is not deeply involved.”

He also challenged claims that members of the latest search committee are representatives of the Sports Ministry.

Afriyie singled out Agbesi Dzakpasu, pointing out that he has been associated with the GFA since the administration of former president Kwesi Nyantakyi and currently serves as chairman of the GFA Appeals Committee.

“See, the names you've put here today, show me one person that is a ministry representative,” he said.

“Agbesi, as we speak, since Kwesi Nyantakyi was there, has always been part of the GFA. Today, as we speak, Agbesi is the chairman of the Appeals Committee of the Ghana Football Association.”

He added that Dzakpasu is also involved with the newly formed Ghana Premier League structure, questioning how his inclusion could be attributed to the ministry.

Queiroz stepped down after Ghana suffered consecutive defeats in their opening two 2027 AFCON qualifying matches.

The Black Stars lost 2-0 away to Ivory Coast before suffering a 4-2 defeat by The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Ghana are now bottom of Group C without a point.

The committee is reportedly considering recommending an interim coach to lead the Black Stars in their upcoming double-header against Somalia in October, before a permanent head coach is appointed.