There are ‘damaging truths’ behind Ghana’s 44-year AFCON title drought - GFA president Kurt Okraku

Ghana Football Association (GFA) president Kurt Okraku says there are underlying reasons behind Ghana's failure to win the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) for 44 years but insists some of the issues cannot be discussed in public.

The Black Stars last lifted the continental trophy in 1982 and have since struggled to reclaim their status as African champions despite reaching the final on three occasions in 1992, 2010 and 2015.

Ghana have endured a difficult period in recent editions of the competition, suffering consecutive group-stage eliminations at the 2021 and 2023 tournaments before failing to qualify for the 2025 edition in Morocco.

The four-time African champions finished bottom of their qualifying group, missing out on the tournament for the first time in 20 years.

Speaking during an appearance before Parliament's Select Committee on Sports on Wednesday, Okraku acknowledged Ghana's prolonged wait for continental success, despite having several generations of talented players.

"The Black Stars in 44 years have not won the AFCON. This is a statement of fact. In 44 years, we've had different generations of super talents, and in 44 years, we've been to the grand finale on three occasions," Okraku said.

However, the GFA president suggested that factors contributing to the country's inability to win the competition go beyond what can comfortably be discussed in a public setting.

He cautioned that disclosing certain information at the wrong time could have damaging consequences, particularly with cameras present during the parliamentary engagement.

"There are certain reasons that I will not want to talk about here because I see cameras and whatever we say here is public. Sometimes certain truths said at a wrong time could be very damaging," he added.

Okraku, however, expressed the association's willingness to engage the committee in a private discussion to examine the issues surrounding Ghana's prolonged AFCON title drought.

"If this committee is very interested in going to the bottom to find perhaps that singular reason why Ghana in 44 years has not won an AFCON trophy, we can have that discussion without cameras," he said.

The GFA president also used the opportunity to clarify the association's relationship with the government, insisting that the football governing body operates as an independent private entity despite working closely with the state.

Meanwhile, the Black Stars face an uphill task in their bid to qualify for the 2027 AFCON after suffering defeats in their opening two Group C matches against Ivory Coast and The Gambia.

Ghana will regroup later this month for a crucial double-header against Somalia, with both matches offering an opportunity to revive their qualification hopes.