Former Vice President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), George Afriyie, has condemned the leadership of Kurt Okraku for what he describes as a “trial and error” approach to the national team’s coaching decisions.
Under Okraku’s tenure, the Black Stars have gone through five different head coaches in a turbulent five-year period, with little success in major international competitions.
The revolving door began in 2020 when CK Akonnor replaced Kwesi Appiah. Akonnor was later dismissed and succeeded by Milovan Rajevac, who was sacked following Ghana’s disastrous early exit at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Otto Addo then took over on an interim basis, successfully guiding the Black Stars to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. However, the team’s group-stage exit prompted Addo to step down. His successor, Chris Hughton, fared no better, as Ghana exited the 2023 AFCON group stage in Ivory Coast.
In a surprising move, Otto Addo was reappointed in March 2024 with a long-term contract. Yet his return ended in disappointment when the Black Stars failed to qualify for the 2025 AFCON.
Speaking in an interview, Afriyie expressed frustration with the GFA’s inability to provide stability for the national team, emphasizing that the frequent coaching changes have created confusion.
“Coach CK [Akonnor] was sacked, then came Milovan Rajevac. Milo was sacked, and Otto Addo came in. Otto said he wasn’t ready for the long term,” Afriyie remarked.
“He [Otto Addo] left, and we brought in Chris Hughton. Chris was sacked, and then Otto Addo was brought back. If all this happens within five years, what are you doing? Is it not trial and error?”
Afriyie also questioned the GFA’s decision to appoint Otto Addo, whom he labeled inexperienced, and criticized the lack of experienced assistants on the coaching staff.
“Otto Addo had no prior experience as a head coach of any major team. His assistants were also inexperienced. In other places, when you appoint an inexperienced coach, you surround them with highly competent assistants. That wasn’t the case here,” Afriyie noted.
He added, “Otto Addo took us to the World Cup with Mas Ud Didi Dramani, Chris Hughton, and George Boateng as assistants. This shows the lack of planning and foresight.”
The Black Stars will conclude their qualifiers against Mali at the Accra Sports Stadium, with kick-off set for 4:00 PM.
