October 28 – Ghana has elected a new FA president more than a year after a corruption scandal forced a major shake-up of the game in the West African nation.
Kurt Okraku says he will get to work immediately after he was sworn in for a four-year term on Friday in succession to Kwesi Nyantakyi who was once the second most powerful official in African football until being banned for life by FIFA for bribery, corruption and conflict of interest following an investigative documentary by African journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas which rocked football in Ghana and led to the creation of a FIFA-imposed normalisation committee before a new president could be chosen.
Football was suspended in Ghana following the Anas expose until reforms were put in place, leading to a new leadership campaign that climaxed with Okraku replacing Nyantakyi, former first vice-president of the Confederation of African Football, and a FIFA Council member.
Okraku, who won a close contest, has been given the mandate to lead Ghanaian football at a sensitive time after the sport was almost brought it to its knees.
A former executive committee member in the GFA at the time of the investigation by Anas, he says he will rebuild trust and restoring the image and reputation of the GFA, enhance the infrastructural base of clubs and employ the best management practices possible.
“We have an opportunity to build a new association with a clear business plan detailing excellence in management, accomplished marketing and sales team to churn out great football products and event experience supported by good communication with top notch financial and internal audit and compliance assurances,” Okraku said in his manifesto document.
Contact the writer of this story at andrew.warshaw@insideworldfootball.com