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FA elections brouhaha
• Kurt Okraku
Campaign for the impending elections of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), has roared off in earnest amid fire-spitting of venomous ‘verbiage’ across board.
The quadrennial elections is tentatively slated for October, this year, but no specific date has been determined for that purpose yet – at least, as of the time of putting this piece together.
The GFA, which is responsible for setting the parameters – or better still, roadmap for the much-heralded event, is yet to come clear on it – causing lots of agitation and apprehension amongst members of the opposite camp.
“I don’t know whether the elections is coming up this year. And I’ve not started to think about elections yet,” Kurt told SuperSport recently.
“I react to the mood of the people. What I will do is to react exactly to the way the people want.”
Could it be a strategy of paralysis or psychological warfare? Maybe, yes – maybe, no.
Predictably, this year’s elections may be going down as one of the most acrimonious and fiercely-held engagements to elect the man to steer the future of Ghana football for the next four years.
The incumbent – Kurt Edwin Simon Okraku, is seeking re-election after succeeding Kwesi Nyantakyi in 2019.
The October election of Okraku gave birth to the refrain: Bringing back the love for the game – coming on the heels of the Anas exposé on football corruption in Ghana.
Truth is, the ‘Bringing back the love’ mantra almost pulled the trick as thousands were vigorously enamoured by it.
This was seen in the massive support Ghanaians offered the Black Stars on their way to Qatar 2022 World Cup qualification – though the team failed to progress beyond the opening round in the campaign. One could describe it as a bitter-sweet achievement for the Kurt administration.
There were also damning series of first round exits. In the last couple of months, Ghana has failed to qualify for the Under-17 and Under-20 AFCON – though we were defending champions in the latter. We were also bowled out at the group stage during the AFCON 2021 tournament – and even though we swaggered out way to the Championship of African Nations (CHAN), we got booted out in the group stages. Only last year, we were shown the door in the first round of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar!
However, albeit he has come against an avalanche of criticism for the aforementioned fiascos, the incumbent FA President insists he is steadily building a strong foundation for Ghana football – also pointing to the Catch-Them-Young Referee policy that is expected to produce a sturdily steady flow of the Knights-of-the-Whistle across the continent.
It seems to many that Ghanaians are not really concerned too much about the future; what they need now is the result! No patience to wait, it appears to be!
The recent capitulation of the Black Meteors in the just-ended AFCON Under-23 tournament in Morocco, culminating in the team’s failure to grab a ticket to the Paris 2024 Games, seems to have pumped further weight on Kurt whose opponents accuse his administration of corruption and poor leadership.
Indeed, Alhaji Karim Grusah – a member of the GFA Executive Committee, has badgered on the FA – accusing it of corruption – allegation that has not been responded to. Perhaps, at the appropriate time, the FA hierarchy would react to clear their image.
Certainly, opponents of Kurt would fancy these developments – hoping to ride home the damage to victory.
Strappingly contesting Kurt for his seat is the former Vice President of the GFA, George Afriyie, who lost to the incumbent in the final round of the 2019 elections.
Others vying for the top post are Kojo Yankah, the former chairman of the Western Regional Football Association and the bankroller of Berekum Chelsea, Bernard Nana Yaw Amofa Jantuah
Clearly, this year’s elections will be contested with ruthless intensity – and the coming days should generate an amperage of interest all the way to October.
At the end of the day, it is the hope and expectation of many that Ghana football would emerge the winner.
Dr Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, spokesperson to NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has called on the government and Parliament to undertake major reforms in Ghana’s prison system, including the construction of a dedicated prison hospital and the introduction of regulated conjugal visits.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, Dr Boakye-Danquah shared Chairman Wontumi’s observations and recommendations following his remand on July 20, 2026.
According to the statement, Chairman Wontumi’s experience in prison has given him the opportunity to interact with prison officers and inmates and observe the challenges facing the Ghana Prisons Service.
The statement noted that the NPP chairman believes the correctional system must move beyond punishment to focus on rehabilitation, welfare and productivity.
One of his major concerns is the lack of dedicated, well-equipped prison hospitals, ambulances and standby generators in several prison facilities.
Dr Boakye-Danquah said Chairman Wontumi had raised concerns about the difficulties in providing medical care to seriously ill inmates, including those suffering from tuberculosis.
He is therefore calling for the construction of a modern prison hospital to serve facilities across the country. In the interim, he has proposed emergency arrangements with the 37 Military Hospital and the Police Hospital.
On the welfare of prison officers, Chairman Wontumi has urged the government to review their salaries, accommodation and conditions of service.
He has also called for proper classification of inmates, arguing that minor offenders should not be housed alongside armed robbery convicts and that persons facing trial for serious offences, including treason and terrorism, should be appropriately separated from other inmates.
The statement further highlighted concerns about the need for counselling and behavioural support for young inmates, particularly those serving sentences for defilement-related offences.
Chairman Wontumi has also called for a clear policy on the classification and management of LGBTQI+ inmates within the prison system.
On family relationships, he has proposed the creation of designated private areas where prisoners can receive visits from their spouses and children.
He believes regulated conjugal visits could help preserve marriages, reduce tension among inmates and support rehabilitation.
“The prisoner is the one in prison, not the children or spouse,” the statement noted, explaining his position on the need to protect family relationships during incarceration.
Chairman Wontumi has appealed to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to support prison farms with the necessary equipment to improve food production.
According to the statement, the Ghana Prisons Service has access to vast lands and skilled labour but faces a shortage of agricultural equipment, with only one tractor reportedly available for farming and garbage-related activities.
He has further proposed greater collaboration between prison authorities and the justice sector, suggesting that regional prison commanders should be included in relevant discussions because of their knowledge of prison conditions and inmate rehabilitation.
On infrastructure, Chairman Wontumi has called on the government and private sector to invest in modern prison facilities and factories, arguing that the system has seen limited structural improvements over the years.
Appeal to Parliament
Dr Boakye-Danquah said Chairman Wontumi had made a special appeal to Parliament to lead efforts towards comprehensive prison reform.
He is urging the Speaker of Parliament to initiate discussions on prison conditions as a human rights and national development issue.
He has also called on the Majority and Minority caucuses to work together to pass a new Prison Reform Act and approve funding for a dedicated prison hospital, ambulance services, standby generators and agricultural equipment.
Additionally, he wants the Parliamentary Select Committees on Defence and Interior, Health, and Food and Agriculture to undertake working visits to prisons across the country to assess conditions firsthand.
According to the statement, Chairman Wontumi believes bipartisan cooperation between the Majority and Minority caucuses is necessary to secure the legal and financial reforms required to improve the prison system.
He has called for broader prison reforms across Africa, expressing hope that Ghana could lead the continent in improving correctional facilities.
Reflecting on his experience since July 20, Chairman Wontumi stated: “At this experience since July 20th till date, prison doesn’t reform as it should be. I pray that the entire Africa will learn from Ghana.”
The statement added that Chairman Wontumi remained in high spirits.
By: Jacob Aggrey
England captain Harry Kane says it was extra special to be presented with the Ballon d’Or by one of his childhood idols.
Kane made the comment after receiving the prestigious award from former Brazilian striker Ronaldo Nazario.
“Ronaldo was one of my idols growing up,” Kane said.
The Bayern Munich striker described the moment as surreal, being honoured by a player he looked up to as a young footballer.
Kane was announced as the 2026 Ballon d’Or winner on Monday, October 26, at the London Palladium, marking the 70th anniversary of the award and the first time the ceremony was held outside France.
The 33-year-old beat stiff competition from second-placed Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal to win his first ever Ballon d’Or.
He becomes the first Englishman to win the coveted individual award in 25 years since Michael Owen in 2001, and only the fifth Englishman ever after Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Owen.
He is also the first Bayern Munich player to win the award since Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in 1981.
Kane won the award after a remarkable season in which he scored 61 goals in 51 club matches, the most a Bayern player has ever scored in one campaign.
Including England matches, it was 73 goals plus eight assists in 65 matches. His 73 goals is the second-highest single-season total ever behind Lionel Messi’s 82 in 2011-12.
Despite the goal haul, Kane did not win the Champions League or World Cup, with Bayern losing 6-5 on aggregate to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-finals and England losing 2-1 to Argentina in the World Cup semi-final before finishing third.
The award was presented by Brazilian great Ronaldo Nazario, a two-time Ballon d’Or winner himself, adding what was described as a special dimension to Kane’s historic achievement.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
