Former Ghana international Nii Odartey Lamptey has warned Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Okraku that the growing opposition around his administration could be contributing to the challenges confronting Ghana football.
Lamptey’s comments come after the Black Stars endured a poor start to their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
Ghana opened Group C with a 2-0 defeat to Côte d’Ivoire before suffering another setback against The Gambia, losing 4-2 at the Accra Sports Stadium despite taking a two-goal lead in the match.
The two defeats have left the Black Stars without a point from their opening two games and facing mounting pressure to rescue their qualification campaign.
Lamptey, who represented Ghana at the 1992 Olympic Games and the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations, believes the difficulties facing the national team cannot be blamed solely on performances on the field.
The former PSV Eindhoven and Aston Villa forward says Okraku has built opposition around himself, with some of those opposed to him allegedly seeking to see his administration fail.
“I love Kurt Okraku, but he has created enemies for himself, and the enemies want his downfall,” Lamptey told 3Sports.
He also expressed concern about the people surrounding the GFA president, arguing that they have not done enough to help him deal with the challenges confronting the association.
“Those around him are not helping him. Until Kurt realises that he has to change so many things, so many things will go against him. Everyone is complaining.”
Lamptey further stressed that strained relationships within the football administration could have a direct impact on the work being done to develop the game.
“When you create enemies for yourself, it affects the work that you are doing. That is what is happening to Ghana football now.”
The remarks come at a time when the GFA is under increased scrutiny following Ghana’s failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Black Stars finished bottom of their qualifying group and missed the continental competition for the first time in more than two decades.
The latest results have intensified calls for changes within Ghana football, including concerns about the administration of the game and the technical management of the national team.
The GFA is also in the process of appointing a new head coach following the departure of Carlos Queiroz after Ghana’s disappointing opening results in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
The Portuguese coach was appointed earlier this year and had been tasked with guiding the Black Stars through the qualifying campaign after helping Ghana secure a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
A five-member committee has been formed to lead the search for his successor, with its report expected to be submitted to the Sports Ministry on Friday, October 9.
Ghana’s next assignment in the AFCON qualifiers will be against Somalia in October.
The Black Stars are scheduled to play both matches at the Accra Sports Stadium and will need victories in the two fixtures to revive their qualification hopes.
Having suffered defeats in their opening two matches, Ghana have very little room for further dropped points in Group C.
