President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Okraku, has expressed worry about the “poor” quality of coaching skills in Ghana, which he believes is impeding the growth of football in the country.

Ghanaian football has long grappled with concerns over declining coaching standards, with stakeholders citing outdated training methods, limited access to advanced coaching education, and inconsistent development pathways as persistent challenges.

During a speech at the CAF License, A coaching course at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram, Mr Okraku mentioned that one challenge his outfit has identified is linked to coaching and refereeing which they consider a priority that needs urgent reforms.

He made reference to measures the local football body adopted during the GFA’s 2023 Congress in Kumasi to tackle these impediments to local football growth.

“These two key areas are refereeing and coaching. I have never, never, never been happy with coaching, and I have not stopped talking about this.

“When I say coaching standards in Ghana have been poor, I really mean it,” Mr Okraku added.

The CAF License A programme is part of the GFA’s wider strategy to elevate technical standards in Ghanaian football. It aims to equip coaches with modern training techniques, advanced tactical knowledge, and best practices to enhance player development at every level.

President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, last year secured a seat on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Executive Committee (EXCO).

His tenure will last four years, from 2025 to 2029.

Okraku was elected unopposed and will now be part of the 24-member committee responsible for overseeing African football.

His appointment reflects recognition of his leadership at the GFA, where he has prioritized transparency, grassroots football, women's football, and youth development since taking charge in 2019.

With Ghana’s strong football tradition, his role on the CAF EXCO is expected to strengthen the country’s influence in shaping football policies across Africa.

He now joins a distinguished list of Ghanaians who have served on the committee, including Ohene Djan, Kobina Hagan, Nana Fredua Mensah, Samuel Okyere, and Kwesi Nyantakyi.

Meanwhile, Okraku's journey in football administration began with his involvement in club football. He was the Executive Chairman of Dreams FC, a club he helped establish and develop.

His success at the club level paved the way for his election as GFA President, where he has focused on revitalizing domestic football, enhancing youth development, and promoting women's football.

Kurt speaks on Ghana Black Stars' 2023 AFCON

Ghana Black Starshad a very disappointing run of form during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in the Ivory Coast, leading to their early exit at the group stage, marking their second consecutive early exit after also crashing out in the group stage of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar under the leadership of the then coach, Chris Houghton.

After playing three games, they won none, securing only two points. About three (3) years down the line, the President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), has revealed that he anticipated the Black Stars’ disappointing performance.

Speaking during an appearance on Asaase Radio, Okraku admitted: “To be honest, going into that tournament, I was not expecting something different, and I told people close to me that it would not work for us because I knew the team and knew the happenings, and we exited the competition at the group phase.

“When we came home, there was a need for us to look at what we did, but unfortunately, we started declining as well, and we failed to qualify for the last AFCON.”

He added that the team’s struggles continued upon returning home, ultimately resulting in Ghana missing qualification for the next AFCON.

Reflecting on recent successes, Okraku praised the GFA Executive Council for taking decisive action that helped the team secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

“Ghana spoke after that, and it was very loud, and as a leader, I listened to everybody, and we all agreed that there was a need for a reset and to be honest with ourselves.

“We needed to know what was fundamentally wrong with us and fix it. After listening to the Executive Council, we made the right decisions, and we qualified for the 2026 World Cup,” he added.