George Afriyie vows to block Kurt Okraku’s third-term bid

Former Ghana Football Association vice-president George Afriyie has vowed to thwart Kurt Okraku's ambitions for a third term as GFA president. Okraku, who assumed office in 2019, is currently serving his second term after being unopposed in the 2023 election. This potential third term became feasible following a GFA Congress decision to extend the presidential term limit from two to three four-year terms.

Afriyie, a former chairman of the Black Stars Management Committee, vehemently opposes this move and is eager to see a new leader at the helm of the association. "Kurt Okraku's third term as GFA President will never happen," Afriyie declared to Sporty FM. He also plans to lobby the President of Ghana, John Mahama, to initiate a petition for change.

Afriyie also raised concerns over the constitutionality of the term extension, citing Ghana's national Constitution, which limits a President of the Republic to two terms. He argued that the Normalisation Committee maintained the GFA presidential term limit at two four-year terms for a reason. The GFA's Ordinary Congress approved the amendment, with 114 of the 124 delegates present voting in favor, six voting against, and three abstaining.

The new arrangement allows the GFA President and Executive Council members to serve up to three four-year terms, potentially staying in power for up to 12 years. The Congress also amended the Executive Council's composition, promoting the Women's Football Representative to the position of Second Vice-President. Afriyie, who lost the 2019 GFA presidential election to Okraku, has previously shown interest in shaping the future of Ghanaian football.