The Ghana Football Association maintains that the recent growth of the Black Stars technical team is a strategic investment in the development of the national team and has denied claims that it is an unneeded financial burden.
Following public outcry over the hiring of five more backroom employees to assist head coach Otto Addo in front of impending international assignments and FIFA World Cup preparations in 2026, the FA took this stance.
The goal of the enhancements is to improve critical operational areas such as match analysis, coaching support, performance tracking, and medical services.
GFA Communications Director Henry Asante Twum brushed off accusations that the new hires are a waste of money, emphasizing that the organization is still committed to making the senior national team more competitive.
“It is unfortunate for anyone to describe this as a waste of money. That has never been the goal of the FA,” he said.
The appointments form part of broader efforts by the football governing body to address technical and performance gaps identified in recent campaigns.
Twum expressed confidence that the benefits of the expanded technical team would become evident with time, urging stakeholders and supporters to remain patient as the changes take effect.
“In time, everyone will testify to the impact these additions will have on our progress,” Twum told Akoma FM.
Kurt Okraku, the president of GFA, travels strategically to the FIFA office in Rabat with CAF and FIFA leadership.
Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, president of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and vice president of the CAF, was one of the notable football figures who paid a visit to the FIFA Regional Office for Africa in Rabat on Monday, one day after the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) got underway at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on Sunday, December 21.
In front of a sold-out audience in Rabat, the 35th edition of the continent’s premier competition began with a stunning opening ceremony and a Group A match between hosts Morocco and Comoros.
Okraku participated in high-level talks aimed at boosting football development throughout Africa with the participation of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe, and other senior authorities.
The talks covered governance reforms, youth and grassroots programmes, infrastructure development, and the effective deployment of FIFA Forward initiatives – crucial pillars for strengthening African football.
The presence of Ghana’s football supremo in these strategic dialogues reinforces the country’s growing influence within CAF and its alignment with global football governance.
Okraku has consistently championed transparent administration, institutional capacity building, and sustainable growth – both within Ghana and across the continent.
CAF President Dr Motsepe reiterated the Confederation’s commitment to deepening collaboration with FIFA and member associations to deliver impactful programmes that uplift football at all levels.
FIFA President Infantino, meanwhile, praised the progress seen in CAF’s organisational frameworks and reaffirmed FIFA’s support for African football’s ambitious development agenda.
With AFCON 2025 now underway, and 24 nations competing until January 18, 2026, leaders like Okraku are positioned at the heart of discussions that could shape the future of the beautiful game in Africa.
GFA Boss Set to Engage Premier League Clubs in Crucial Annual Review on July 22
On Tuesday, July 22, 2025, Premier League clubs will meet with the Ghana Football Association’s (GFA) leadership for their yearly review.
Along with members of the Executive Council, Dr. Ransford Anertey Abbey, Frederick Acheampong, Kingsley Osei Bonsu, Nana Sarfo Oduro, and James Kwesi Appiah, the engagement will be led by President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku and Vice-President Mark Addo.
The gathering will give everyone a chance to think back on the 2024–2025 Premier League season and plan for the next one.
A pillar of the Football Association’s dedication to cooperative governance and ongoing development of domestic football, the session is held once a year.
The 2025 review will bring together key stakeholders from all 18 Premier League clubs to assess the just-ended season, address challenges and explore innovative ways to enhance the league’s competitiveness and appeal.
The agenda for the meeting will center on critical areas including regulations, communication and marketing. Stakeholders will examine the operational aspects of the league during the 2024/25 season, including scheduling, officiating and regulatory compliance amongst others. The leadership will also highlight successes and lessons learned from the past season to inform decisions moving forward.
The 2025/26 Ghana Premier League season is scheduled to kick off on September 12, 2025, with Congress set to convene a month earlier on August 12, 2025. The Congress will ratify key decisions, approve regulations, and formally set the stage for the new season.
The GFA Standard Player Contract (GSPC), which will go into force for the 2025–2026 football season, has been accepted by the Executive Council.
This comes after several seasons of intense cooperation between the Football Association, its members, and the Professional Footballers Association of Ghana (PFAG).
All stakeholders contributed to the cooperative and reciprocal effort and drafting, which resulted in the final, approved version for the first edition with the possibility of ongoing clause improvements as the season progressed.
The Access Bank Division One League, the Malta Guinness Women’s Premier League, and the Ghana Premier League will all fully adopt the GFA Standard Player Contract, which is applicable to the signing of all professional players in Ghana.
There will be a transitional time after the Standard Player Contract is authorized, during which the current player contracts will expire and the new contracts will be created using the approved Standard Player Contract Template.
By establishing some basic terms and requirements for a player’s contract in Ghana, the GFA Standard Player Contract seeks to enhance player welfare and conditions. Its main goals are to minimize legal conflicts, level the playing field between teams, and offer guarantees on contractual responsibilities. All clubs in Ghana will receive copies of the GSPC.
This program is in line with the GFA’s dedication to protecting player welfare, upholding international best practices, and offering assurances about contractual duties.
The GFA Standard Player Contract, as expected, has some pre-defined, legally binding provisions between a professional player and a club and some that the player and the club will negotiate and input. It outlines the terms and conditions of the player’s employment, including duration, compensation, and other relevant regulations.
The GFA Standard Player Contract is designed to create a fair and consistent framework for player contracts within the competition, minimizing disputes and ensuring basic standards are met.
Here’s a breakdown of key aspects of a Standard Player Contract:
Parties Involved:
Identifies the player, the club, and the relevant league.
Indicates if an Agent is involved or not.
Contract Duration:
Specifies the start of the agreement (which must be in the transfer windows in July or January).
Specifies the end of the agreement (which must in June or December, just before the start of the transfer windows).
Compensation and Benefits:
Outlines the player’s salary, bonuses, and other forms of compensation.
Include provisions for benefits like insurance, medical coverage and Minimum wage
Player Obligations:
Specifies the player’s responsibilities, such as attending training, participating in games, and adhering to the team’s rules and regulations, Code of Conduct.
Addresses image rights, promotional activities, interviewing and what not to say or do.
Club Obligations:
Details the team’s responsibilities, such as providing training facilities, medical support, and ensuring a safe playing environment.
Address issues like player development and career guidance.
6. Dispute Resolution:
Includes procedures for resolving any disagreements or disputes that may arise between the player and the team.
Reference to the GFA Players’ Status Committee and appeals to CAS.
Termination:
Outlines the conditions under which the contract can be terminated by either the player or the Club.
Provisions for breach of contract, misconduct, or other specified events.
Other Provisions:
The GSPC has clauses related to:
Confidentiality: Protecting sensitive information related to the team and its operations.
Intellectual Property: Addressing the ownership and usage of the player’s image, likeness, and other intellectual property.
Insurance: Covering the player’s health and potential injuries.
Independent Contractor Status: If applicable, clarifying the player’s employment status.
The GFA Standard Player Contract is made up of some static clauses but there are portions which require negotiations and amendment to reflect the specific needs and circumstances of each player and the team, within the framework of a free Ghana player market.
On Wednesday, November 27, Black Stars head coach Otto Addo will meet with the Ghana Football Association’s (GFA) Executive Council to discuss the team’s performance in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
The technical report that Addo produced, which assessed the Black Stars’ performance during the qualifiers and the technical team’s overall performance under his direction, will be the main focus of this important conference.
The Executive Council decided to meet with the coach last Wednesday to talk about the report and the team’s performance since Addo took over earlier this year, which led to this conclusion.
The GFA announced the meeting in a statement, emphasizing its significance in deciding the future course of Ghana’s national football team.
“The Executive Council will meet the Head Coach of the Black Stars, Mr. Otto Addo, on the 27th of November, 2024, to discuss his technical report on the just-ended AFCON qualifiers and the overall performance of the technical team since assuming duty earlier this year,” the statement read.
The discussion will also serve to clarify the Black Stars’ inability to earn a spot in the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.
There has been a lot of debate over the Black Stars’ future after the sad outcome, and this meeting should provide some information about the GFA’s future plans.
As per the resolutions reached at the last meeting of the Executive Council, the Black Stars’ Management Committee was promptly disbanded. This decision gives the next conversations more weight because it indicates the GFA’s intention to assess the team’s management structure and guarantee a route to future success.
Many football stakeholders have praised the move, and many are hopeful about how it will affect the Division One League in the long run.
The Executive Council has given buses to nine (9) Division One League clubs in a major step to improve football development in the nation. Members of the Executive Council were present at the presenting ceremony, which carries on a promise made by GFA President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku at the 29th Ordinary Congress in Kumasi in 2023.
As part of the Association’s capacity-building strategy, buses were given to the beneficiaries, who represented the top three teams from each zone of the Division One League during the previous season.
The goal of this program is to ease clubs’ transportation burdens while encouraging them to give their best efforts. Young Apostles FC, who are currently in the Premier League, won Zone 1. Second place goes to Techiman Heroes FC. Third place for Victory Club Warriors
Zone 2 Winners: Basake Holy Stars – 1st place (Now in the Premier League) New Edubiase FC – 2nd place Mysterious Ebusua Dwarfs – 3rd place
Zone 3 Winners: Vision FC – 1st place (Now in the Premier League) Okwawu United – 2nd place Hohoe United – 3rd place
On Tuesday, August 27, 2024, President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku will address the Ghana Football Association’s 30th Ordinary Session of Congress.
During the major convocation on Tuesday, August 27, the President is expected to give an update on the strategic objectives that are being executed as well as discuss and confirm new ideas that will be put into action.
Among other things, he will go over the strategic components of the GFA’s second phase of agenda, which aims to improve Ghana football’s foundation and build on the progress gained since the organization’s last congress on July 10, 2023, in Kumasi.
The Ghana Football Association’s (GFA) 30th Ordinary Congress will take place over two days and feature a full schedule of activities for delegates.
Activities on Monday consist of a variety of entertaining games to be played following group talks on current topics affecting Ghanaian football. Along with the sod cutting for the construction of a contemporary gymnasium and swimming pool, there will also be a presentation, picture shoot, interviews, and photo sessions. Additionally, delegates will tour some of the renovated lodging facilities.
Congress’s regular session is scheduled for Tuesday, August 27, 2024.
Throughout the two days, President Simeon-Okraku is expected to attend meetings and take part in the exciting games that have been planned.
Despite criticism of his leadership style, Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Okraku has stated that he wants to be regarded as an honest leader.
Speaking to the media on Friday, August 9, at the GFA’s Meet the Press event in Sunyani, Okraku underlined his dedication to being truthful and keeping his word.
The occasion, which took place at the Eusbett Hotel, gave Okraku a chance to address those who have questioned his openness in leading the organization.
“I want to be remembered for being a very honest leader who stood by his words and delivered the same at every given opportunity,” he said.
Reiterating his stance, Okraku said, “This is how I want to be remembered.” His remarks come amidst ongoing debates about the governance of the GFA and calls for greater openness in its operations.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) will hold its 29th Ordinary Congress later today in Kumasi.
The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology’s Great Hall in Kumasi will serve as the venue for the Congress.
Over the years, the Ashanti Region, and Kumasi in particular, have provided the Black Stars and other national teams with tremendous support.
The Association chose that location for this year’s Congress in order to express its gratitude to Asanteman’s football enthusiasts and to inspire others to heed the GFA’s rallying cry to “BringBackTheLove” for the game.
Even before Ghana’s football leagues began, the Ashanti Region was well-known for its football talent and for Asante Kotoko SC’s achievements both in Ghana and outside the African continent.
The Hon. Mustapha Ussif, Minister of Youth & Sports, and other illustrious individuals from the Ashanti Region will attend this year’s Congress.
The Convocation comprising the agenda, activity report, audited accounts, and any other pertinent papers has been served to all delegates to Congress.
A successful 29th session of Congress is assured thanks to the participation and delegation of all members of Congress.
At 9:00 am, the 29th Ordinary Congress will get started.
Paris 2024 Olympic Games Qualifiers: Coach Nora Häuptle names Black Queens squad for Guinea game
Black Queens coach, Nora Häuptle has named a provisional squad list for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games Qualifiers against Guinea.
Northern Ladies and Black Princesses shot-stopper Afi Amenyaku have earned her debut senior call-up following her heroics at the recent WAFU B U-20 Girls Cup of Nations in Kumasi.
Also in the squad are trio Ernestina Abambilla, Jennifer Cudjoe, and Alice Kusi who return after a long absence.
Camping officially opens on Monday, July 3 at the GFA Technical Centre (GSCE), Prampram at 4:00 pm. The first-round fixtures against Guinea are scheduled between 10 – 18, July 2023.
