Former Ghana international Nii Odartey Lamptey says Ghana Football Association (GFA) president Kurt Okraku has created enemies within Ghana football, contributing to the difficulties facing the sport.
Lamptey’s comments come after the Black Stars made a disastrous start to their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign.
Ghana, four-time African champions, opened their Group C campaign with a 2-0 defeat by Ivory Coast before suffering another setback against The Gambia.
The Black Stars looked set to secure their first win when they took a two-goal lead against The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium.
However, they collapsed in the second half to lose 4-2, leaving them without a point from their opening two matches and placing their hopes of qualifying for the 2027 tournament under serious pressure.
Lamptey, who represented Ghana at the 1992 Olympic Games and the 1996 AFCON, believes the problems affecting the national team are part of wider issues within Ghana football.
“I love Kurt Okraku, but he has created enemies for himself, and the enemies want his downfall,” he told 3Sports.
“Those around him are not helping him. Until Kurt realises that he has to change so many things, so many things will go against him. Everyone is complaining.
“When you create enemies for yourself, it affects the work that you are doing. That is what is happening to Ghana football now.”
The GFA has faced serious backlash following Ghana’s failure to qualify for the 2025 AFCON and the team’s poor start to the current qualifying campaign.
Ghana missed the previous edition of the continental tournament for the first time in more than two decades after finishing bottom of their qualifying group.
The back-to-back defeats have intensified pressure on the GFA and the national team, with calls from several quarters for changes to Ghana football’s administrative and technical structures.
The GFA is also searching for another head coach after Carlos Queiroz left his position by mutual agreement following the Black Stars’ poor start to the qualifiers.
The Portuguese coach was appointed earlier this year with the task of guiding Ghana to the 2026 World Cup and 2027 AFCON.
His departure has left the Black Stars without a permanent head coach, with the GFA expected to appoint a replacement.
A five-member committee has been established to oversee the search for a new coach, with its report due to be submitted to the Sports Ministry on Friday, 9th October.
Ghana’s next AFCON qualifying assignments will come in October when they face Somalia in a double-header.
Both matches are scheduled to be played at the Accra Sports Stadium, with the Black Stars needing a significant improvement in results to revive their campaign and remain in contention for qualification.
