Former Vice President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), George Afriyie, has criticized the leadership of Kurt Okraku for adopting what he described as a "trial and error" approach in handling the Black Stars' coaching appointments.
Under Okraku’s administration, the Black Stars have seen five different head coaches in just five years, with little success in major international tournaments.
The coaching carousel began with the appointment of CK Akonnor in 2020 after Kwesi Appiah’s dismissal. Akonnor’s tenure was cut short, and Milovan Rajevac returned for a second stint. However, Rajevac was sacked after Ghana's disappointing group-stage exit at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Otto Addo was then named interim coach and managed to secure World Cup qualification for Qatar 2022 but resigned after the team's group-stage elimination. Chris Hughton, who had served as a technical advisor, was subsequently appointed but failed to guide the team past the group stage in the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast.
In March 2024, Otto Addo was reappointed on a long-term contract, but the Black Stars' struggles continued, culminating in their failure to qualify for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.
Speaking in an interview, George Afriyie expressed frustration over the frequent coaching changes, which he believes have bred confusion and instability in the national team.
“Coach CK [Akonnor] was sacked, then Milovan Rajevac was brought in. He was also dismissed, and Otto Addo came in. Otto himself said he wasn’t ready for a long-term role. After he left, Chris Hughton took over, only to be sacked as well, and Otto Addo was reappointed. Is this not trial and error?”
Afriyie also questioned the GFA’s choice of inexperienced coaching staff, pointing out Otto Addo’s lack of head coaching experience prior to leading the Black Stars. He highlighted the absence of seasoned assistants to support inexperienced head coaches, further compounding the team’s challenges.
“Elsewhere, when you appoint an inexperienced coach, you pair them with very experienced deputies. But in this case, the coach is inexperienced, and so are his assistants,” Afriyie stated.
The Black Stars will look to end their disappointing campaign on a positive note when they face Mali in their final AFCON qualifiers at the Accra Sports Stadium. The match is set to serve as a reflection point for the team’s leadership and future direction.
