The decision was made during the GFA Ordinary Congress held at the Ghanaman Soccer of Excellence in Prampram on Tuesday, August 12, where delegates voted to increase the presidential term limit from two to three terms.

While the move has faced criticism, Sannie Daara—currently Senior Media Officer at the Confederation of African Football (CAF)—believes it is essential for long-term progress.

“During the era of the Normalisation Committee, they tried desperately to work against what Kwesi Nyantakyi achieved. There was a rush to put in laws that would completely take football away from what Kurt Okraku has done. But the truth is, if you are in football administration and know what it takes to gain influence and position your country to benefit, that cannot be done in eight years,” he told Sporty FM.

He emphasised that experience and continuity are critical at decision-making tables in football administration.

“If you take out the CAF president [Dr Patrice Motsepe], all the Executive Council members are in their fourth terms in office,” he added.

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The amendment was approved on Tuesday during the GFA’s 31st Ordinary Congress at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram. Out of 124 delegates present, 114 voted in favour, six opposed, and three abstained.

Speaking on Joy FM, Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe described the decision as a “shameful act” and accused the association of manipulating the constitution to serve personal interests.

“What has happened today is a very shameful act by the FA. I’m deeply disturbed because it appears people can toy with a constitution and nothing will be done,” he said.

“These things are done for personal interest, and that is exactly what has happened. Legally, this amendment can be challenged on several grounds,” he added.

The change paves the way for current GFA President Kurt Okraku, who is in his second term, to potentially seek another mandate.

However, Okraku has maintained that it is too early to decide on his future.

“This is premature. We have, at the moment, almost two and a half years to serve the Ghanaian game, and when it comes to that, I will make a decision just like many people who are eligible to make a decision and contest,” he said.

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His comments follow Congress’ approval of an amendment extending the GFA presidential term limit from two to three during its 31st Ordinary Congress in Prampram on Tuesday.

With two and a half years left in his current mandate, Okraku told journalists that discussions about his future are not a priority.

“This is premature. We have almost two and a half years to serve the Ghanaian game, and when the time comes, I will make a decision—just like many others who may be eligible to contest,” he said.

The GFA president stressed that the immediate focus should be on strengthening Ghana’s domestic football and tackling key challenges facing the sport.

“What should be a topic is how we handle the new wind blowing around our domestic game, the high level of investment the FA has secured to make it a reality, and how well our clubs can respond to the current situation as we work to develop the Ghanaian game,” Okraku noted.

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The annual Congress, convened under Article 31(2) of the GFA Statutes (2019), serves as a platform for representatives of all 124 Congress members to review the association’s progress, present financial and activity reports, and set strategic directions for Ghanaian football ahead of the new season.

A major highlight of this year’s meeting was the landmark decision to extend the presidential tenure — a reform that has already been approved by both FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The change aligns with international football governance practices and aims to promote leadership stability and continuity within the GFA.

The proposal passed with overwhelming support, as 114 delegates (91.4%) voted in favour, six opposed, and three abstained. Under the amendment, a GFA president can now serve up to 12 years in office, up from the previous eight-year maximum.

The extension is expected to give future presidents a longer timeframe to implement comprehensive development plans and drive the growth of football in Ghana.

Currently in his second term, GFA President Kurt Okraku has not indicated whether he will seek a third term under the new arrangement.

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The motion to increase the presidential tenure from two to three terms is set to be debated at the 31st Ordinary Congress, scheduled for Tuesday, August 12, at the Ghana Soccer Excellence Centre in Prampram.

This proposal has sparked strong opposition among football administrators, many of whom have publicly criticized the suggested change.

In a social media post, Dr. Nduom questioned the justification for extending the GFA president’s term, writing on Facebook:
“Hmmm. Some people are waiting for me to say something about the GFA President term limit. Not me. Not this time. Where are the wise football people?”

Similarly, notable football figures such as Kudjoe Fianoo, George Afriyie, Alhaji Grusah, Samuel Anim Addo, and Elony Amande have all voiced their disapproval of the amendment.

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The motion, which seeks to increase the term limit for the GFA president from two to three terms, is set to be discussed at the 31st Ordinary Congress on Tuesday, August 12, at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram.

Speaking to Graphic Sports, Dr. Nyaho-Tamakoe cautioned against amending the presidential term limits enshrined in the GFA’s constitution. The Hearts of Oak board member described the move as dangerous, warning it could undermine the democratic reforms introduced by the FIFA-backed Normalisation Committee led by Dr. Kofi Amoah in 2019.

“The constitution strictly limits the number of terms a GFA president can serve to two — and this was introduced during the era of the current president,” he said. “He never opposed it then. Now that he is approaching the end of his second term, why is he suddenly trying to change it?”

Dr. Nyaho-Tamakoe reminded stakeholders that the current statutes emerged from crucial reforms following the fallout of the “Number 12” corruption exposé, which ended Kwesi Nyantakyi’s 13-year leadership of the GFA.

Drawing lessons from the past, he warned that Ghanaian football risked revisiting its darkest moments. “We saw what happened to Kwesi Nyantakyi, Mr. Simeon-Okraku’s predecessor. His downfall was partly due to his reluctance to relinquish power. Anyone who wants to stay in power perpetually, especially by manipulating the constitution, is a danger to the organisation and society. We’ve been here before; we must not repeat the same mistakes,” he added.

Several prominent football figures, including Kudjoe Fianoo, George Afriyie, Alhaji Grusah, Samuel Anim Addo, and Elony Amande, have already voiced their opposition to the proposed amendment.

Dr. Nyaho-Tamakoe served as GFA chairman from 2004 to 2005.

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His comments come in response to statements by GFA General Secretary, Prosper Harrison Addo, who, speaking on Asempa FM, said the proposal to increase the limit from two to three terms came from clubs, the Referees Association of Ghana (RAG), and other Congress members.

The matter is expected to be discussed at the GFA’s 31st Ordinary Congress, scheduled to take place at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram.

Gyambrah, a former Executive Council member, insists that no club has supported such a move.

“Clubs never proposed an extension of the term of office for the president of the Ghana Football Association (GFA),” he told Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show.

“It is about this extension of tenure of office that brought about the Anas exposé. I believe that even if we will consider the extension of the tenure of office for the president, it should not be now.

“Even the constitution governing our country allows the president only two terms in office, so I believe clubs and civil societies must wake up to ensure that this extension of tenure of office does not see the light of day,” he added.

Several leading football figures — including Kudjoe Fianoo, George Afriyie, Alhaji Grusah, Samuel Anim Addo, and Elony Amande — have already voiced opposition to the proposed amendment.

The Ordinary Congress is set for Tuesday, August 12.

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The proposal is among several reforms expected to be discussed during the GFA’s 31st Ordinary Congress scheduled for Tuesday, August 12, at the Ghanaman Centre of Excellence in Prampram.

It also includes a recommendation to appoint two vice presidents, one of whom must be a woman, as part of efforts to promote gender inclusivity in football administration.

While the proposal has received a mixed reaction among GFA Congress members, Yakubu has openly voiced his disapproval.

Speaking to Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show, the seasoned football administrator expressed concern over the rationale behind the move and called for wider consultations before any such decision is made.

“I have listened to several comments about the third term, and I am not in support of it. I was involved in the earlier discussions, and I made my stand clear that we don’t need to extend the mandate of the presidential term of the Ghana Football Association,” he said.

Yakubu revealed he has formally written to the GFA requesting a list of the clubs that submitted the proposal, questioning the transparency of the process.

“I have written to the FA to demand the number of clubs that have proposed for the extension of the presidential mandate. Football is not only for administrators but also for the public, and so we need to do broader consultation about this third-term agenda.”

He further argued that the current GFA President, Kurt Okraku, still has over two years left in his second term and that eight years should be sufficient for any leader to make an impact.

“Kurt Okraku has more than two years to finish his second term, and so I believe that eight years is enough for every president to do what he can for our football.

“I will tell Kurt Okraku just to finish his second term and leave. This third term is not needed in our game. I have made my stand known to all that I don’t support this, and I’ll always stand by it,” he added.

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The proposal, which seeks to increase the term limit from two to three terms, will be tabled at the GFA’s 31st Ordinary Congress, scheduled for Tuesday, August 12, at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram.

Afriyie, who previously served as Chairman of the Black Stars Management Committee, has openly rejected the proposed amendment.

In an interview with Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show, he described the move as ill-timed and contrary to the spirit of the association’s statutes.

“I will personally petition the government of Ghana over this proposed presidential term limit. I believe that we don’t need it at this time,” he stated.

If the proposal is adopted, current GFA President Kurt Okraku—who began his second term in 2023—could become eligible to run for a third term when his tenure ends in 2027.

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Afriyie’s comments follow a controversial proposal from the GFA’s Statutes Review Committee, which seeks to extend the presidential term limit from two to three terms.

The proposal is expected to be a key item on the agenda at the GFA’s 31st Ordinary Congress, scheduled for Tuesday, August 12, at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram.

Speaking in an interview on Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show, Afriyie claimed that Mr. Okraku is the driving force behind the proposal.

CHAN is ongoing, and Ghana is not there. The Black Stars could not qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament, and the current administration is thinking about a proposal to extend the presidential term limit, he said.

The only thing keeping us from complete embarrassment is women’s football. Kurt Okraku is only interested in himself and not in developing our game.

Afriyie further criticised the state of the domestic transfer market under Okraku’s leadership, highlighting what he believes is a troubling trend.

For the past five seasons under Kurt Okraku, the top 25 player transfers have been dominated by Right to Dream. No player is hitting a GH₵1 million transfer from Ghana these days, yet we’re more focused on personal glory than developing the game. It indicates that our game is not in good hands, and it is not time to consider extending the president’s term limit, he added.

The motives behind the proposal come at a time when Ghana football faces mounting challenges both on and off the pitch.

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The proposed amendment, which will be tabled at the GFA’s 31st Ordinary Congress on Tuesday, August 12, at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram, seeks to increase the presidential term limit from two to three.

Speaking to Joy Sports, Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe warned that disregarding history could prove costly.

“I warn that history has repeated itself in several instances in this country, and we don’t seem to take note of that,” he said.

“If we are not careful, this can create a big problem. I cite the downfall of the former GFA boss, Kwesi Nyantakyi, my very good friend. I attribute it to this particular thing he himself wanted to do, which had an impact on his downfall.”

He described any attempt to manipulate the constitution to prolong power as dangerous.

“To me, anyone who wants to stay in power perpetually, especially by twisting the constitution to suit their interests, is a danger to the organisation and to society,” he added.

Kwesi Nyantakyi, who had already served two terms, benefited from a constitutional amendment that allowed him to contest for a third. However, midway through that term, he was implicated in the explosive Number 12 documentary by journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, which led to his resignation and a lifetime FIFA ban.

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His caution comes ahead of the GFA’s 31st Ordinary Congress, where a proposal is expected to be tabled to increase the tenure of the GFA President from two terms to three.

Speaking on Akoma FM, the Tafo MP described the proposal as a “shameful attempt” by the GFA leadership to entrench themselves in power.

“I think it is a shameful attempt by the leadership or the Executive Council of the GFA to seek to entrench themselves, or the President himself, in power,” he said.

He stressed the need for leadership renewal in football administration and urged the Association to embrace democracy by allowing room for new perspectives.

“Let us open up our football. Let us allow democracy to flourish through our game. Allow someone else with new ideas to lead our football once your term is over,” he added.

Assafuah further insisted that the current eight-year cap must be respected, noting that the GFA President, Kurt Okraku, should complete his reforms within the time allowed.

“Whatever you have to do in 8 years, Kurt should be able to do it. Let’s respect the statutes and the constitution that gave him the opportunity to become FA President, and allow football to grow and be sustained. Just leave office after 8 years and let someone else take over,” he urged.

He also questioned the motive behind the extension proposal, suggesting that Okraku had already accomplished most of his objectives.

“In any case, whatever Kurt Okraku set out to do, I believe he has almost done it. I don’t see what else he can achieve that would justify entrenching himself further,” Assafuah said.

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Last week, the GFA announced that it had secured approval from FIFA to increase the term limit for its president from two to three terms. According to the Association, the move is aimed at aligning its statutes with those of FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The proposal is expected to be tabled during the GFA’s 31st Ordinary Congress scheduled for Tuesday, August 12, at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram.

Despite resistance from some football stakeholders, Adu, speaking to Sporty FM, described the proposal as timely and appropriate.

“The proposal to extend the term limit of the GFA president to three is a step in the right direction, not an imposition,” he said.

If passed, the amendment could affect the current GFA President, Kurt Okraku, who has completed one full term and is currently in his second. The extension would pave the way for him to contest for a third term, potentially extending his tenure beyond the current eight-year limit.

Source: AdomOnline

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