By Africalivenews
King Faisal owner Alhaji Karim Grusah has called for the resignation of Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Okraku following the Black Stars’ disappointing 4-2 defeat to The Gambia in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Grusah, one of the long-standing figures in Ghana football, expressed his disappointment with the national team’s performance after the Black Stars surrendered a two-goal advantage at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Ghana looked to be in a comfortable position after taking a 2-0 lead, but the team failed to maintain control of the match and eventually conceded four goals to suffer another painful defeat in front of their home supporters.
Asked to rate the Black Stars’ performance against The Gambia, Grusah gave a blunt assessment, scoring the team “zero.”
His criticism, however, was not limited to the players. Grusah also questioned the leadership of the GFA and called on its president, Kurt Okraku, to step down.
“The GFA President should resign. He’s a liar. He should resign,” Grusah said.
The comments come at a difficult moment for the Black Stars, who have now suffered defeats in their opening two Group C matches of the 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign.
Ghana began the campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké before returning home hoping to secure a positive result against The Gambia.
Instead, the Black Stars suffered another setback despite having taken a commanding lead in the match.
The defeat has left Ghana without a point from its first two matches and raised fresh concerns about the direction of the national team.
For many supporters, the manner in which the defeat occurred was particularly worrying. After establishing a 2-0 advantage, Ghana appeared to have the game under control, but the team struggled to respond when The Gambia fought its way back into the contest.
The eventual 4-2 scoreline reflected a major collapse, leaving supporters frustrated and disappointed at the final whistle.
Ghana’s recent struggles have also renewed discussions about the management of the Black Stars, the quality of preparation for major competitions and the overall leadership of the country’s football.
Grusah’s call for Okraku’s resignation adds to the pressure surrounding the GFA leadership at a time when the national team is under increasing scrutiny.
As the owner of King Faisal Football Club, Grusah has been involved in Ghana football for decades and has consistently been outspoken on issues concerning the development and administration of the game.
His experience also includes a role on the Black Stars Management Committee during Ghana’s participation at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
That experience has given him a close understanding of some of the challenges surrounding the national team and its management.
Although criticism of the Black Stars has traditionally focused on players and coaches, Grusah’s latest comments shift attention towards the football administration and its responsibility for the state of the national team.
The call for Okraku to resign is therefore likely to generate further debate among football stakeholders and supporters, particularly following Ghana’s poor start to the AFCON qualifying campaign.
The Black Stars have historically been one of Africa’s most respected national teams, having won the Africa Cup of Nations four times. However, their recent performances have often fallen short of the expectations of Ghanaian supporters.
The national team’s struggles have been particularly frustrating for fans because of the country’s rich football history and the amount of talent available to Ghana.
Supporters expect the Black Stars to compete strongly at continental level, while administrators are regularly challenged to create the right conditions for the team to succeed.
Ghana’s latest defeat has once again brought those expectations into focus.
The loss to The Gambia was not simply the result that disappointed supporters. The manner of the defeat, particularly after Ghana had established a two-goal lead, has raised questions about the team’s ability to manage matches and respond to difficult situations.
For Grusah, the problem goes beyond what happens on the pitch.
His decision to call for the resignation of the GFA president suggests that he believes the current leadership must take responsibility for the broader problems surrounding the national team.
“The GFA President should resign. He’s a liar. He should resign,” he reiterated in his criticism.
Okraku has been at the helm of the GFA since 2019 and has overseen several important developments within Ghana football, including efforts to improve domestic football administration and strengthen the country’s football structures.
However, the performance of the Black Stars remains one of the most important measures by which the football administration is judged by the Ghanaian public.
The national team carries enormous expectations, and poor results often lead to intense scrutiny of everyone involved, from players and coaches to administrators.
With Ghana now facing an uphill task in the 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign, attention will turn to how the team responds in its upcoming fixtures.
The Black Stars will need to recover quickly if they are to revive their qualification hopes and avoid further pressure.
For Grusah, however, the immediate concern is not only about results on the field but also about leadership off it.
His call for Okraku’s resignation is likely to keep the debate over the management of Ghana football alive, particularly as supporters demand better performances and greater accountability from those responsible for the national team.
The defeat to The Gambia has undoubtedly deepened concerns around the Black Stars. Whether those concerns will lead to changes within the technical team, the playing squad or the GFA leadership remains to be seen.
What is clear is that Ghana’s poor start to the 2027 AFCON qualifiers has placed the national team under significant pressure, while Grusah’s comments have added another dimension to the growing debate about the future of Ghana football.
