Kurt Okraku Denies Influencing Ghana Premier League Outcomes
President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, has strongly refuted allegations that he manipulates the results of the Ghana Premier League to favour certain clubs.
The claims, which have circulated widely during his second term in office, suggest that Okraku influences which teams win the league or face relegation. However, the GFA boss, who also serves as the 2nd Vice President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), dismissed the accusations during an interview with Metro TV.
“I operate within the space as the president of the Football Association. For those outside the system, it may seem as though I am all-powerful, that I control everything in Ghana football. But that’s far from the truth,” Okraku explained.
He underscored that his position does not grant him power over match outcomes, adding that the GFA operates under a democratic system with clearly defined statutes and autonomous bodies.
“My role is to lead in governance and to ensure that we run football based on laid-down statutes and structures. These give independence to various organs within the FA. It is not for me to decide who gets relegated or who wins titles. That is the job of the clubs, their players, coaches, and technical teams,” he stated.
Okraku emphasized that success in football depends on preparation, performance, and competitiveness—not interference.
“Clubs and their owners must build strong teams, hire capable coaches, and ensure that they are competitive on the pitch. If you are not competitive, unfortunately, you may suffer relegation. If you are competitive, you could end up winning titles,” he added.
To further counter the allegations, Okraku cited examples from his own football investments, revealing that some of his personally affiliated clubs have been relegated over the years.
“I’ve personally seen my own clubs go down. Dreams FC has struggled, and I’ve lost two or three investments to relegation. Dreams Tamale, Still Believe have suffered relegation. If I truly had that kind of power people speak of, wouldn’t I have saved my own investments?” he questioned.
Okraku’s comments are expected to calm concerns as the GFA continues its broader efforts to improve the integrity and competitiveness of Ghana football.
