Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) Deputy General Secretary Ibrahim Sannie Daara has called on GFA President Kurt Okraku and his executives to take urgent decisions to address the growing crisis surrounding Ghana football.
Speaking on TV3, Sannie Daara said Okraku must reflect on the current situation, listen to public concerns and take decisive steps to restore confidence in the Black Stars.
“Kurt Okraku is to listen to himself. Number one, smell the mood in the room. Number two, take decisive decisions based on that.”
His comments follow Ghana’s poor start to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, with the Black Stars losing their opening two Group C matches against Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia.
Ghana suffered a 2-0 defeat in Bouaké before collapsing from a two-goal lead to lose 4-2 to The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium, leaving them without a point and increasing pressure on the GFA and coach Carlos Queiroz.
Sannie Daara also criticised Okraku’s public response to Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah during their recent disagreement over the state of Ghana football.
“I was not happy when I saw my brother openly confronting the MP, a lawmaker of Ghana, in the way he did. I was asking myself, where are his executives? Is it that the man is driving alone?”
He urged the football authorities to take criticism from politicians and the public seriously instead of dismissing concerns.
“The way we carry ourselves, arrogantly claiming that we are football people, therefore nobody can talk about us, is the result of the attendance we saw yesterday.”
The former GFA official also raised concerns about Ghana’s player development system, questioning why few products of the junior national teams have progressed into established Black Stars players.
“For nearly 10 years, it’s only just one player who has come through our junior national teams and made it to the Black Stars level and is permanent. And it’s only Fatawu Issahaku. That’s not normal.”
Sannie Daara warned that failure to address the issues could further damage the relationship between the GFA, supporters and political authorities.
“We have lost the public already.”
He added that responsibility lies with Okraku and the entire GFA executive to make the necessary changes.
“This reflection must come from the GFA president himself and his executives. They are all collectively responsible for taking decisions.”
On Carlos Queiroz, Sannie Daara called for a change in the technical direction of the Black Stars, insisting the Portuguese coach should not continue in the role.
“As far as the coach is concerned, I don’t think he has any business continuing. He has no business continuing.”
He concluded that Ghana needs a fresh approach to rebuild confidence in the national team after their recent setbacks.
