President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) Kurt Okraku has called on the government to step up its investment in football, warning that the country cannot enjoy lasting success without strong support for the development of the game.
Okraku believes Ghana's football problems go beyond the work of the GFA, insisting that a lack of proper facilities, grassroots programmes and quality coaching structures continues to hold the game back.
Speaking before Parliament's Select Committee on Sports on Wednesday, the GFA boss acknowledged the association's responsibility to provide the needed equipment, improve football pitches, maintain stadiums and appoint competent technical staff.
However, he stressed that these efforts alone would not be enough to build a strong football system, calling for regular government investment in grassroots development, coach education, scouting and modern playing facilities.
"If we are to be honest, there is a lot more that brings sustained success in football. This includes continuous investment in grassroots football, continuous investment in coach education, exposing coaches to the international market, good scouting, and good facilities (football pitches) for the kids and senior teams to play. All this we don't have in our country," he said.
Okraku's remarks come at a time when Ghanaian football is facing increased scrutiny over the performances of the national teams and concerns about the standard and competitiveness of the Ghana Premier League.
By: Pascal Amoah
