Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) vice-president George Afriyie has accused current Ghana Football Association (GFA) President  Kurt Okraku of hating criticism despite his underperformance in his leadership role.

His comments come amid conversation about the current state of Ghana football at both the league and national team levels.

Speaking in reaction to the development, the former Vice President, during an appearance on Atinka TV on Thursday, September 10, compared Kurt Okraku’s performance with that of former GFA President Kwesi Nyantakyi, saying the current GFA leader was nowhere near Nyantakyi in terms of performance.

According to George, “Kurt is not performing but hates criticism,” Afriyie said.

He went on to praise the achievements of former GFA boss Nyantakyi, saying, “Forget Kurt Okraku. Kwasi Nyantakyi is the best GFA President ever. Nyantakyi’s achievements as GFA President are an open secret, and nobody can discount them”.

Afriyie said Nyantakyi’s tenure left a lasting mark on Ghana football, with successive administrations struggling to match the level of progress recorded under his leadership.

He noted that although each administration has had to deal with different challenges, Nyantakyi’s achievements have remained a key point of reference in assessing the performance of GFA leadership.

Nyantakyi served as GFA president from 2005 to 2018, a period widely regarded as one of the most notable eras in Ghana football.

His 13-year tenure ended following the release of the Number 12 investigative documentary, which exposed alleged corruption within Ghana football and led to his resignation from his football administration positions.

Number 12 documentary, Nyantakyi’s fall

The investigative documentary Number 12, produced by journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, was released in June 2018. It exposed widespread corruption in African football administration, with Nyantakyi at the centre of the scandal.

Hidden camera footage showed him allegedly accepting cash gifts and making promises that violated FIFA’s ethics rules.

The revelations shocked Ghanaian football and the wider African football community, sparking outrage among fans, officials, and international observers.

Consequently, Nyantakyi stepped down voluntarily from the post as President of the GFA a day after the documentary was aired in cinemas nationwide. On June 7, 2018, Nyantakyi resigned as President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) after the documentary aired.

He also stepped down from his roles as CAF Vice President and FIFA Council member, positions that had made him one of the most influential figures in African football.

Later that year, on October 30, 2018, FIFA imposed a lifetime ban on Nyantakyi from all football-related activities. In 2020, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) reduced the ban to 15 years, but his football career was effectively over.

The documentary was part of Anas’ investigative series, each numbered to mark a major exposé. “Number 12” specifically focused on corruption in football.