Kurt Okraku questions government's commitment to football development in Ghana

Ghana Football Association (GFA) president Kurt Okraku has questioned the government's commitment to the long-term development of football in the country, insisting that sustained success requires a collective effort beyond the football governing body.

Ghanaian football has faced a difficult period in recent years, with the performances of the various national teams and the competitiveness of the Ghana Premier League coming under scrutiny.

The GFA has also faced criticism over its management and administration of the domestic game, with concerns growing over the declining fortunes of Ghanaian football.

However, speaking before Parliament’s Select Committee on Sports on Wednesday, Okraku challenged the government to take greater responsibility for the development of the sport, arguing that inadequate infrastructure and investment continue to hamper progress.

The GFA president acknowledged that his administration has a responsibility to provide the necessary logistics, improve playing surfaces, secure stadium facilities and recruit qualified technical personnel.

However, he maintained that these measures alone would not be enough to guarantee sustained success without consistent investment in other critical areas of the game.

"If we are to be honest, there is a lot more that brings sustained success in football," Okraku said.

"This includes continuous investment in grassroots football, continuous investment in coach education, exposing coaches to the international market, good scouting, and good facilities (football pitches) for the kids and senior teams to play. All this we don't have in our country," he added.