Renowned sports journalist Dan Kwaku Yeboah revealed that in 2019, Kurt Okraku, the president of the Ghana Football Association, terminated Kwasi Appiah’s contract due to his selection of relatively unknown players.
Yeboah specifically highlighted that one of these players, Mohammed Kudus, is now a key member of the Black Stars.
Furthermore, the former spokesperson for the Normalization Committee disclosed that despite initial opposition from the government, Okraku stood by his decision to dismiss Appiah.
Upon assuming leadership from the Normalization Committee, Kurt Okraku made the decision to let go of Kwasi Appiah, who had recently achieved two consecutive victories, including a win against South Africa in Cape Coast.
This particular match marked the debut of Kudus and other players who were considered unfamiliar at the time.
According to Kwasi Appiah, Kurt Okraku warned him that he would be fired if he lost the next game due to his use of less recognizable players.
Despite winning the game, Kwasi Appiah was ultimately relieved of his coaching duties. At a certain point, the president expressed a desire for Kwasi Appiah to remain, but Kurt insisted on terminating his contract. Kwasi Appiah’s contract expired in January 2020, and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) opted not to extend it.
Dan Kwaku Yeboah’s remarks were intended to highlight what he perceives as inadequate management by Kurt Okraku, who assumed the presidency of the GFA following the Normalization Committee.
Under Okraku’s leadership, the Black Stars have experienced a concerning decline, failing to achieve victory in two consecutive Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournaments and exiting early in both events. Presently, the Black Stars are at risk of failing to qualify for the upcoming AFCON, a situation they have not faced since 2004.
The team has not secured a victory in any of their four matches in the current qualifiers, with two losses and two draws.
