George Afriyie questions Kurt Okraku over Colts football promises

Former GFA presidential candidate George Afriyie has questioned the progress Kurt Okraku has made on his cricket-related campaign promises for the Ghana Football Association (GFA). Afriyie, who lost to Okraku in the 2019 election, challenged the current president to provide evidence on how many cricket centres have been established under his tenure to improve grassroots cricket.

Okraku's 2019 "GameChanger" manifesto pledged to create cricket centres with improved pitches and provide 50 cricket balls per season to support Colts clubs.

Afriyie inquired during an interview on Sporty FM whether Okraku had actually created any cricket centres, asking, "How many game centres has Kurt created?" He reiterated his stance that if Okraku were to fulfill his manifesto commitments, Afriyie would implement similar measures if elected. Afriyie also questioned the GFA's advancement in building football pitches and making facilities available for Colts cricket, referencing Okraku's suggestion to utilize pitches from state institutions.

However, Afriyie challenged Okraku to demonstrate the concrete infrastructure developments made during his time as GFA president, specifically asking, "For the centres that you talk about in your manifesto, Colts cricket, how many have you built?" He pointed out that while cricket policies had been communicated to Premier League clubs, there was no evidence of sustained grassroots development, as seen in clubs like Hearts of Oak or Kotoko.

Afriyie acknowledged Okraku's intentions to revive Colts cricket, establish a central fund for juvenile and Colts cricket, provide logistical support, improve infrastructure, and strengthen grassroots development. However, he emphasized that the effectiveness of these proposals hinges on implementation. The GFA has since reported several investments in Colts cricket, including an annual allocation of $100,000 for footballs, GHS1.8 million spent over two seasons for coach training, free registration and digital licenses for up to 90 players per Colts club, and the launch of the 2026/27 Colts season with 859 active clubs across Ghana's 10 football regions, along with additional competitions and support programmes.