'Save Ghana football' could have used other channels than protesting publicly - Kurt Okrku

Ghana Football Association (GFA) President, Kurt Okraku, has suggested that the "Save Ghana Football" demonstrators should have pursued diplomatic channels rather than taking to the streets in protest.

The demonstration, which took place on February 14, 2024, was led by well-known sports journalists, including Saddick Adams, Patrick Osei Agyemang, and Veronica Commey.

It was fueled by frustration over the declining state of Ghana football, especially following the Black Stars' early exit from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where they failed to progress past the group stage.

Speaking before the Parliamentary Select Committee on Sports, Okraku expressed his disappointment with the approach taken by the protestors. "For the respect we have for this house and the fact that we all share a common vision — to deliver Ghana football the way it has to be delivered. I ordinarily wouldn’t react because a lot of the people who put this together work for us," he said.

Okraku emphasized that those involved in the protest had direct access to the GFA leadership and could have raised their concerns through existing channels instead of staging a public demonstration.

"They had so many avenues to address issues of concern without creating the atmosphere they did," Okraku noted.

While he acknowledged the legitimacy of their concerns, Okraku insisted that many of the issues raised by the demonstrators were already being addressed by the GFA.

He encouraged patience and constructive engagement, suggesting that the protestors would have realized progress had they used proper communication channels.

Okraku remains confident in the GFA’s efforts to improve football in Ghana and advocates for dialogue over public protests as the best path forward.