Blame Randy Abbey, Kurt and his cronies for the down fall of Ghana Football and Black Stars

Since Kurt Okraku took office as president of the Ghana Football Association, Ghanaian football seems to have hit rock bottom.

Following the Black Stars’ disappointing performance at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and the African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, the national team has continued to struggle. With these persistent challenges, it’s uncertain whether the team will qualify for AFCON 2025 in Morocco or the 2026 World Cup.

Many believe that Kurt Okraku’s rallying "shout-out" to the team at a dinner before their must-win match—one demanding tactical discipline and focus—rattled the players, leaving them off-balance in Libya, where they stumbled on the astro turf.

However, Ghanaian coach Akwasi Appiah provided a masterful response. He silenced coach Otto Addo, whose initial confidence in Accra fell short during their first encounter. Appiah, who previously led Ghana to a historic 6-1 win over Egypt, managed to defeat four-time African champions Sudan 2-0 in their home-away match.

Football enthusiasts, seeking to understand the source of the team’s struggles, speculate that old influences within the association—like Randy Abbey and other figures from Kwesi Nyantakyi's era—are part of the problem. Some even claim that political interference is undermining Ghana football, suggesting that Okraku and Abbey, allegedly affiliated with the opposition NDC, may be working against the ruling NPP government’s interests.

In response to recent criticisms, the Executive Committee (ExCo) of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), led by Dr. Randy Abbey, was summoned by Parliament’s Select Committee on Sports. Dr. Abbey defended the ExCo’s $100,000 honorarium, arguing that the committee should be compensated as they are ultimately held responsible when the Black Stars underperform. However, concerns remain that Ghanaian football pitches are in poor condition and that coaches for junior teams—including the Starlets, Satellites, and Queens—remain unpaid, leading to allegations of bribery and extortion.

Controversy also arose when President Kurt Okraku abruptly left camp after reprimanding the senior players. His decision to then attend a Satellites friendly in Germany, rather than supporting the Black Stars in Libya, has led many Ghanaians to question his priorities. Should the focus not have been on the critical must-win game, rather than on the WAFU B tournament in Togo or a friendly abroad?

“Bringing back the love,” the slogan aimed at rekindling enthusiasm for Ghana football, has ironically underscored a misplaced set of priorities. Under Okraku’s leadership, along with Randy Abbey and other ExCo members, the development and progress of Ghana’s most popular sport have stagnated. Fixing the team and restoring public confidence seem to have taken a backseat.

The collapse of Ghanaian football since Anas Aremeyaw Anas’ Number 12 exposé on corruption remains evident. Fans question whether Randy Abbey and Prosper Harrison Addo, Kurt Okraku’s deputy, were behind the selection of Otto Addo as head coach, hoping for a high-profile choice that has yet to materialize. With critical players missing key games that could determine Ghana’s AFCON and World Cup fate, there’s a sense that nothing has changed or will change without serious introspection and reform.