Kudjoe Fianoo questions GFA accountability over Black Stars failures

Former chairman of the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA), Kudjoe Fianoo, has questioned the accountability mechanisms within the Ghana Football Association (GFA), arguing that the football governing body should face scrutiny when organisational failures contribute to the Black Stars’ poor performances.

Speaking on Sporty FM, he argued that the checks and balances which previously existed had weakened, allowing football administrators greater freedom without sufficient accountability.

Fianoo cited previous instances when the GFA was dissolved following disappointing tournament performances, insisting that such decisions were based on assessments of what went wrong rather than mere speculation.

“What happened in Brazil? The GFA will be dissolved right there, but here you are,” he said, referring to Ghana’s participation in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

When pointed to the dissolution of the GFA following Ghana’s 1994 Africa Cup of Nations campaign in Tunisia, Fianoo agreed, arguing that the current governance structure lacked the same level of accountability, claiming that administrators could even secure extensions to their tenure through Congress.

“So, those checks and balances were there, but now, ‘Y3n ko Kwaa’, blank cheque. So, you can even have the comfort of even asking for an extension. You can manipulate Congress to get an extension. I'm talking about the checks and balances,” Fianoo stated.

However, he stressed that dissolving the GFA should not be based on speculation alone but should follow a thorough assessment of the circumstances surrounding a team's failure.

“They were not dissolved on mere speculation. You go to a tournament, and you don't perform. When the stock is taken, and you realise that the fault came from organisation,” he said.

Fianoo also recalled Ghana’s disappointing campaign at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire, where the Black Stars exited at the group stage without winning a match.

He argued that poor tournament performances should prompt an examination of the decisions made by football administrators, including team preparation and organisation.

“I don't think anybody would cheer about a team going to a competition and would not win a game,” he added.

Ghana’s poor start to the 2027 AFCON qualifiers after suffering two defeats to Cote d’Ivoire and The Gambia leaves them at the bottom of the group with zero points.

The back-to-back defeats mean the Black Stars are now without a win in their last 11 AFCON-related matches, leaving their hopes of qualifying for the 2027 tournament under pressure.

Ghana will be looking to revive their campaign when they face Somalia in a double-header in November. With their qualification hopes hanging in the balance, the Black Stars will need a strong response to keep their chances of reaching the tournament alive and avoid missing out on a second consecutive AFCON finals after failing to qualify for the 2025 edition in Morocco.