The Ghana Football Association (GFA) is gearing up for its Extraordinary Congress, scheduled for October 5th at the Redaach Memorial Hotel in Tamale.
The Congress is slated to kick off at 9 a.m. and will primarily focus on endorsing Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku for a second term as the President of the GFA.
Kurt Okraku, the incumbent GFA President, is running uncontested after the Appeals Committee upheld the disqualification of his sole challenger, George Afriyie. Okraku initially secured the GFA Presidency in October 2019 when he triumphed over George Afriyie.
He took the reins from Kwesi Nyantakyi, whose prolonged tenure was marred by allegations of corruption, brought to light through an investigative exposé by journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
The upcoming Congress is not limited to the presidential endorsement; it will also involve the election of executives who will oversee GFA affairs for the next four years.
In addition to the presidential position, delegates will select five representatives for the Ghana Premier League (GPL) and three representatives for the Division One League (DOL) for the Executive Council.
The DOL candidates vying for the positions include Mark Addo, Samuel Addo Anim, Eugene Nobel Nii Amon Noel, Gideon Fosu, and Alexander Ababi.
For the GPL roles, ten candidates are in the running, including Kingsley Osei Bonsu, Nana Sarfo Oduro, Frederick Acheampong, Anthony Kwesi Aubynn, Ransford Anertey Abbey, Onyina Asenso, Edmund Kwabena Ackah, James Kwasi Appiah, Elloeny Amande, and Raphael Yawiah Gyambrah. Dr. Gifty Afia Oware-Mensah is running uncontested for the Women’s Football representative on the Executive Council.
The electoral process will span across ten regions, where regional delegates will elect their respective chairmen. Two chairmen will subsequently join the Executive Council.
Some regions have uncontested chairmanship races, including Greater Accra, Western, Eastern, and Northern regions. Samuel Aboabire, Simon Ehomah, Linford Boadu Asamoah, and Mahamadu Abu-Hassan are among the uncontested candidates.
In the Central region, Robert Otieku Duncan and Abdul Hayye Yartey are competing for the Central FA Chairman role, while the Brong Ahafo FA Chairman position is being contested by Dickson Kyere-Duah, Dr. Charles Osei Antoh, and Meshack Asante Ameyaw.
Salifu Shaibu Zida and Abel Alonort Asoogo are running for the Upper East Region FA Chairman role.
The event in Tamale is expected to host observers from FIFA, including Gelson Fernandes, Director of Member Associations for Africa; Silmara Sousa, FIFA Development Programme Coordinator; and Mr. Ahmed Harraz, FIFA Member Associations Africa representative.