By Evans Worlanyo Ameamu, GNA
Keta (V/R), Oct. 3, GNA – Football fans in Keta have backed reports that former Black Stars captain André Dede Ayew is considering contesting the next Ghana Football Association (GFA) presidential election, to help reset the country’s football.
The reports suggested that Ayew, a former captain of the Black Stars, may enter the race to lead Ghana football after his playing career.
Fans in the municipality see the former skipper’s experience on the pitch as an asset that could help the GFA tackle the numerous challenges facing the national teams.
The reports have also stirred debate among Ghanaian football followers over whether Ayew is the right person for the job, or whether another former Black Stars legend, such as Asamoah Gyan or Stephen Appiah would be a better choice.
The talk comes amid heavy scrutiny of the GFA after the Black Stars lost their first two 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, going down 2-0 to Côte d’Ivoire and 4-2 to The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Following the defeats, Carlos Queiroz left his position as head coach, while the GFA and the Ministry of Sports and Recreation have since set up a five-member Search Committee to lead the recruitment of a new head coach.
The committee comprised Mr Fred Pappoe (Chairman), Mr Anthony Baffoe, Mr Agbesi Dzakpasu (Esq.), Mr Stephen Appiah and Mr Faisal Chibsah.
Many Ghanaians have called on government to dissolve the GFA, while others also believed that the association is an autonomous body, however, government interference could invite sanctions from world football’s governing body, FIFA, including a ban.
Mr Selasi Adzidoboo, a die-hard fan of the Black Stars, told the Ghana News Agency, that GFA President Mr Kurt Simon Okraku and his executives should resign, and argued that their administration has failed to promote football from the grassroots to the senior level.
He pointed out that the Black Stars have had seven coaches in seven years, yet the team failed to qualify for the 2025 AFCON and has now made a poor start to the 2027 qualifiers while the current leadership remains in office.
“Look, the Minister for Sports and Recreation, Mr Kofi Adams, must be relieved of his post over his failure to resolve the challenges in the sector. I talk a lot with less actions.
What we want is a change, it does not matter who is coming, let someone also bring his ideas for Ghana football, Kurt Okraku must not be allowed to go for third term. Under him, Black Stars did not even win single match at any AFCON,” he said.
Ghana News Agency gathered that, on October2, the Ministry issued seven demands to the GFA after a high-level meeting on the state of Ghana football and wants the Black Stars technical team and all existing national team management committees dissolved as part of a restructuring of the national teams.
The Ministry also wants a National Technical Management Committee, made up of two government-appointed experts and two GFA nominees, to provide technical oversight, and directed GFA not to appoint the next head coach unilaterally, but in consultation with that committee.
Other demands include replacing the existing management committees with two bodies, one for men’s football and the other for women’s, and restore state-provided accommodation for the head coach.
The Ministry further wants a consolidated structure with a clear development pathway for the national youth teams, and a say in selecting development coaches for the U15, U17 and U20 sides, and asked the GFA to sign a FIFA-standard cooperation agreement to establish joint decision-making between the two bodies.
With calls for change growing, the fans in Keta said they hope Ghana football would get new leadership that could restore the confidence of supporters in the Black Stars, with Dede Ayew, the most to achieve such status.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah /Kenneth Odeng Adade