Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kwesi Nyantakyi has disclosed that he backed Wilfred Osei Kweku Palmer for the GFA presidency during the 2019 elections.
Osei Palmer, owner of Tema Youth FC, was a leading contender for the position but was disqualified by the Normalization Committee’s Elections Committee. His disqualification stemmed from allegations of failing the integrity test and withholding the GFA’s percentage from the sale of a player.
Nyantakyi, speaking in an interview with Kumasi-based Lawson FM, revealed his disappointment over Palmer's disqualification, describing it as a setback for his preferred candidate.
“I was rooting for Osei Palmer to become the president of the Ghana Football Association. I was sad when he was disqualified by the Elections Committee,” Nyantakyi said.
Nyantakyi also shared that eventual winner Kurt Okraku sought his support a day before the elections. Okraku reportedly called Nyantakyi, who then convened a meeting at his residence with about 60 of the 123 delegates.
“Kurt Okraku called me a day before the elections, asking for my help. I called the delegates to my house at night, and about 60 of them came. I spoke to them, and they agreed to vote for him,” he disclosed.
Nyantakyi clarified that no financial incentives were exchanged during this process.
Kurt Okraku won the elections and is currently serving his second term as GFA President, a tenure marked by various reforms and challenges in Ghanaian football.
