Kurt Okraku, president of the Ghana Football Association, has urged the UK to keep using football as a strategic tool for development, especially in Africa.
During the opening of Arthur Wharton’s 160th anniversary festivities in Accra, Okraku urged Britain to see football’s potential as a social and economic force in addition to its entertainment appeal.
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“In terms of football governance, culture, and passion, the United Kingdom has long been a global leader,” he stated.
“But I stand here today with a petition and a challenge: it is time for the UK to fully awaken to football as a genuine development tool, especially across Africa. In a world shaped by economic divides and shifting diplomatic priorities, sports diplomacy is not just a fringe soft power; it is a core strategy.”
He emphasized football’s ability to bridge cultural divides, educate young people, generate employment, and heal communities, and he called on Britain to collaborate with Ghana on projects ranging from corporate partnerships and strategic investments to technical exchanges and collaborative cultural projects.
Speaking about Ghana’s own initiatives, Kurt Okraku presented a comprehensive national plan for women’s football, youth football, and infrastructure development. She also mentioned how the GFA’s top-tier academies and Prampram training camps are setting the groundwork for future international competition.
“Let today not be the end of a celebration, but the beginning of deliberate dialogue,” he concluded.
“Let us use this commemoration as a springboard to establish a formal roadmap between the GFA and the English FA, supported by the British High Commission, the diaspora, and UK businesses. As we honour Arthur Wharton today, let us pioneer new models of UK–Ghana football collaboration.”
