The President of the Ghana Football Association, Kurt Okraku says he is very open to criticism and strive hard to welcome dissenting opinions about his style of leadership.
According to the former Dreams FC boss, it is only by being accommodating to divergent views that he can correct his mistakes and serve the good people of this country well.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Personality Profile last week, Kurt admitted that he is aware that not everyone will like his personality or way of doing things, but added that he is certain that the majority of Ghanaians can see his genuine hunger to transform Ghana football.
“I hear the criticism of my administration on a daily basis and that is what I love most. I love to hear people who see the other way and see the other side that I don’t see. I love to hear people who are not happy to speak about what I do because that is what will make me better all the time.”
Kurt who assumed the reigns of Ghana football after a keenly contested election barely three months ago has instituted a couple of new initiatives, especially the #BringBackTheLove campaign which is catching on and has received the blessing of the country’s president Nana Akufo-Addo.
Despite his desire to revolutionized the sport in the country, he has been met with some opposition which he says will not deter him from his targets.
“I will be silly to believe that everybody is with us but I also believe the majority of Ghanaians are with us (the new FA). Majority of the people in the industry believe in what we have done so far and they see a future that has hope and a future which will continue to open up opportunities for young kids in this country”.
This week, Kurt Okraku came under heavy criticism from a section of the football fraternity, mostly his opponents in the recently ended election.
Asked if there was any merit to the allegations that he was running a ‘family and friends’ affair at the FA, Kurt said “no one wins an election and appoints his enemies’.
That answer seems to have rattled some fathers, especially in the camp of former FA Veep, Geroge Afriyie who issued a release condemning the use of the word ‘enemies’ by Kurt.
But the spokesperson of the Ghana Football Association, Henry Asante said that he is shocked by the reaction to the rather harmless comments by his boss.
Asante Twum advanced that the issue is being over-stretched and being taken out of context.
He said that through his appointments, Kurt has demonstrated tolerance and willingness to work with people from opposing sides.
He backed his claim with some key appointments made by the Okraku-led administration.
“The response by the FA president was not in direct reference to any individual. I think the issue is being over-stretched. Let’s look at the appointments that have come up in the last few months and juxtapose it to what the FA president said. You may think the word enemy is not the best but I’m not sure that’s exactly what he wanted to say”.
“I think this administration has been very good in putting certain people on some of the committees. For instance, Liberty Professionals before the elections were 100% behind George Afriyie but today the MD of Liberty is serving on two committees. Kotoko declared their 100% support for George Afriyie but today George Amoako is the chairman of the Black Stars Management Committee…”.
Henry also justified the appointments of coach Karim Zito and CK Akonnor who are said to have close ties with Kurt Okraku.
“Karim Zito before Kurt Okraku’s appointment was Black Starlets coach so his current position is an elevation. As far back as 1999, he was coaching Kwaebibrem. He has coached both Hearts and Kotoko and has one of the richest CV’s in Ghana”.
“Before Kurt came, CK Akonnor was an assistant coach and I’m not sure it’s Kurt who gave him that position. There is a caveat on the appointment of a foreign coach. For continuity, consistency and progression sake we have to go for CK”.
The President of the Ghana Football Association, Kurt Okraku