Ghana Football Association (GFA) President, Kurt Edwin Simeon Okraku has made a sudden rise in administration to join the aficionado of the game as a member of the Executive Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following a recent decision of Africa’s football governing body to expand the membership of its decision-making body.
Mr Okraku, 50, who is just getting into his third year as the GFA leader, has been recognised for the impressive work he has done with Ghana in a short time and also in West Africa as the president of the regional body, WAFU B.
In recognition of the tireless work of the regional bodies and their role in the development of the game across the continent, CAF took a decision to co-opt leaders of the regional bodies to serve on the powerful Executive Committee.
The decision means the Ghana FA boss and WAFU B president gets the opportunity to directly serve on the continent and contribute to the development of the game at the highest level.
The Ghana FA president has already attended a few meetings of the CAF Executive Committee following the decision to co-opt leaders of the regional bodies.
Mr Okraku has chalked impressive feats since taking charge as the GFA President in just over two years and as the leader of WAFU B in just one year and has already made his presence felt during CAF meetings.
He has been credited for the quick return of Ghana to the top of African football by their recent qualification to the 2022 FIFA World Cup after a disappointing performance at the 2021 Africa Cup of nation in Cameroun where Ghana made a first round exit.
GFA President Kurt Okraku is on CAF’s ExCo on account of being WAFU B President
Last year he was named as the new President of (WAFU) Zone B after he was unanimously approved as the new leader of the regional body by the all seven member associations.
He took charge following the decision of the incumbent Djibrilla Hima Hamidou to step down from the position, one year before the end of his mandate.
The President of the Niger Football Federation stood down from the leadership position, paving the way for the Ghana football chief to continue the remaining term of office.
The Ghanaian stood unchallenged as all the seven countries in the zone approved him as their new leader before fresh elections are held.
Credit: Graphic Sports