Ghana Football Association (GFA) president Kurt Okraku says there are underlying reasons for the Black Stars’ 44-year wait for another Africa Cup of Nations title, but believes some of those issues cannot be discussed in public.
Okraku made the comments while giving evidence to a parliamentary committee investigating matters relating to Ghanaian football. The committee wanted to understand why Ghana have failed to regain the continental title despite producing several generations of talented players.
The Black Stars’ last AFCON triumph came in 1982. Since then, Ghana have reached the final on three occasions but have been beaten every time.
Okraku acknowledged the committee’s interest in the reasons behind that record but suggested that some of the factors involved should be addressed away from public scrutiny.
“There are some truths that cannot be discussed in public,” Okraku told the committee.
He said the GFA would nevertheless be prepared to hold a private discussion with members of the committee, where those issues could be examined in greater detail.
The GFA president also used his appearance to defend the association’s independence. He said the GFA is a private organisation which works closely with the government, rather than being a government body.
His remarks come as the Black Stars face increased scrutiny after a difficult spell for Ghana’s senior men’s national team.
Ghana began their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign with consecutive defeats by Cote d’Ivoire and The Gambia, adding to concerns over the team’s recent performances and their prospects of ending their long wait for another continental title.
The parliamentary committee’s examination comes against that backdrop, with Okraku acknowledging that the drought cannot be explained simply by a lack of quality among Ghanaian players.
His comments did not publicly set out the specific issues he believes have contributed to Ghana’s failure since 1982, but he indicated that the GFA was willing to provide further answers in a more private setting.