Sports
GFA does not select players for National teams- Kurt Okraku
The President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Okraku, has dismissed allegations that the GFA selects players for the national team.
The responsibility for player selection, he clarified, lies with the technical team of the Black Stars, led by Coach Otto Addo.
Mr. Okraku emphasized that any coach who allows external influence in player selection would face dismissal.
Speaking at a Parliamentary Select Committee on Youth and Sports’ public hearing to address a petition from the “Fix Ghana Group.”
The group organized a demonstration in Accra after the Black Stars’ early exit from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Mr. Okraku expressed disappointment that the group had not engaged with the GFA leadership before petitioning Parliament and taking to the streets.
He welcomed the hearing as an opportunity to explain the issues and clear up misconceptions.
Mr. Okraku also addressed concerns about referee compensation, explaining that referees in Ghana are not full-time employees and hold other jobs.
“Payments to referees are made after matches, in line with global practices,” he said.
He stressed that it is improper for any referee to know match results before officiating, underscoring the integrity of the sport.
Chairman of the Committee on Youth and Sports, Hon. Kobena Mensah Woyome, stated that the purpose of the hearing was to gather the GFA’s perspective before presenting a report to the Speaker of Parliament.
One key issue raised during the session was the payment of $100,000 to the GFA’s Management Committee members as bonus.
In response, Dr. Randy Abbey, a management member of the GFA, explained that financial matters, including tournament budgets and qualifying fees, are handled by the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Dr.Abbey noted that the GFA management does not receive salaries or allowances for their work and criticized the tendency to hold the GFA accountable only in times of failure, without recognizing their efforts in times of success.
Presentations were also made by the Association of Referees and veteran coaches during the session.
Sports
Antoine Semenyo calls for harsher punishment against racial abusers
Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo has called for stronger action against racial abusers in football, saying current punishments are not enough.
Semenyo said he was angry at half-time during a recent match after facing racist abuse but decided to use the incident as motivation.
He explained that his two goals in the game came from turning that anger into fuel.
The Ghanaian international described it as “mind-boggling” that in 2025 black footballers still had to deal with such abuse.
He urged fellow players not to shy away from reporting racism whenever it happens, stressing that the sanctions must be tougher.
Semenyo suggested that maximum punishments could include jail time or lifetime bans from stadiums.
He insisted that football authorities must do more to ensure racism is rooted out of the game.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Sports
“Black Stars can qualify to World Cup if they perform well in the remaining games”
Former captain of the Black Stars, John Mensah, has expressed confidence that the national team can qualify for the World Cup if they continue to perform well in their upcoming matches.
Speaking in an interview with Max Tv, John Mensah said the team’s recent performance shows that they are on the right path.
He explained that with the right support and motivation, the players have what it takes to make it to the global tournament.
“The guys are doing well now. All we need to do is to keep going, support them, and motivate them. If they continue like this, they can make it,” he stated.
On whether the current squad can leave a mark at the World Cup like his generation did, Mensah said every era is different.
He recalled that during his time, the Black Stars excelled because of unity, discipline, and strong team spirit.
He encouraged the present squad to learn from those values as well as make use of their own strengths.
According to him, this is the time for young players to prove themselves and perform for the nation.
Jacob Aggrey
