Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams has expressed his support for Kurt Okraku, the president of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), commending his leadership despite the challenges faced by the national football teams.

Okraku became the GFA president in October 2019, succeeding Kwesi Nyantakyi. Under his leadership, Ghana’s football, particularly the Black Stars, has struggled to perform at its best.

The senior national team has had disappointing results in recent international competitions, and their failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) was a major blow, marking the first time in 20 years they missed the tournament.

Despite these challenges, Minister Adams believes Okraku’s leadership has been far from a failure. Speaking on Asempa FM, Adams acknowledged the difficulties within the football system but emphasized the progress made under Okraku's leadership.

“As challenging as the football system has been, Kurt Okraku has not done badly. In all these circumstances, he has been able to write many wrongs,” he said.

He also shared insights from his frequent interactions with the GFA, noting their ongoing efforts to plan for the development of football in the country.

However, he pointed out that the primary challenge has been in the execution of these plans.

“I have had several engagements with the GFA, and I realise that they are always planning on how to develop the game, but the only challenge has been the implementation of it.

“There has been a plan to split the football system into a Southern and Northern belt, where talents will be developed. The GFA has developed Prampram, which is a good thing, and another thing has to do with the ‘Catch Them Young’ Referee initiative. This was done in silence, which is also good for our game.

“These young referees officiated the African School Championship, which is something we must be proud of.

“These are some of the things that CAF believes Ghana is doing right, which I believe also went in favour of Kurt Okraku getting that position,” he added.Ghanaian fashion

While the Black Stars face challenges, the Black Queens have successfully qualified for the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), and the Black Satellites will represent Ghana at the U-20 AFCON currently taking place in Egypt.