By Kwame Bediako
Ghana Football Association (GFA) president Kurt Okraku has declined to say whether he will seek a third term in 2027, insisting it is too early to decide and that his focus remains on delivering results in his current mandate.
Okraku’s stance on 2027
- Okraku told 3Sports: “I don’t know,” adding there are “close to 18 months before an elective General Assembly” and “a lot of work to be done.”
- He emphasized he wants to concentrate on repositioning Ghana football and said, “When the time comes, I will speak. When the time comes, the football family will speak.”
- He also signaled he does not intend to stay indefinitely: “At the end, I can’t never stay here forever… When the time is due, Kurt will fly away.”
Why a third term is now possible
- In August 2025, the GFA Congress approved a statutory amendment extending the presidential term limit from two four‑year terms to three.
- The vote was 114 in favour out of 124 members present at the 31st Ordinary Session of Congress in Prampram, with six against and three abstentions.
- The change took immediate effect, making Okraku—first elected in 2019 and re‑elected in 2023—eligible to contest again in 2027 and potentially serve until 2031.
Okraku’s tenure so far
- Okraku assumed the GFA presidency in 2019 following the work of the Normalisation Committee that oversaw Ghana football after the 2018 Anas exposé.
- He secured a second term in 2023 without competition after aspirant George Afriyie was disqualified by the Election Committee.
Emerging names and reactions for 2027
- Former Black Stars captain André “Dede” Ayew has been widely linked with a potential GFA presidential bid, though he has not formally declared.
- On the Obi One Podcast, Ayew said the masses’ wishes matter most and that he “just want[s] our football to grow,” while stopping short of confirming a run.
- John Mikel Obi has publicly said he would campaign for Ayew if he contests, praising his leadership qualities.
- George Afriyie, who previously challenged Okraku, has vowed to oppose any third‑term bid and warned against a “one‑man GFA.”
- The Football Administrators of Ghana (FAG) have indicated they are not currently focused on debating Okraku’s third‑term prospects.
