Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick, former President of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) and a member of FIFA's Executive Council has commended Kurt Okraku, President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), for his notable contributions to the advancement of Ghanaian football.
Mr. Pinnick expressed his appreciation for Kurt Okraku's leadership ahead of the GFA Elective Congress scheduled for Thursday, October 5, 2023, in Tamale, where he will be among the special guests of honor.
He highlighted the significant progress witnessed in Ghanaian football during Kurt Okraku's presidency, despite the formidable challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Under his (Kurt's) leadership in the last four years, everybody knows what COVID did to the world. It not only waste our precious time but also affected other businesses, took lives, and made things difficult for everybody.
In spite of that, you look at the rejuvenation between an early exit from the Africa Cup of Nations Cup and qualification for the World Cup when nobody gave Ghana any hope,” Mr. Pinnick stated during a press conference in Accra.
Mr. Pinnick further highlighted Ghana's qualification for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar and Ampem Darkoa Ladies' victory in the WAFU B tournament held in Nigeria as evidence of Kurt Okraku's solid foundation for Ghanaian football, emphasizing the importance of time in building upon this foundation.
He also emphasized that Kurt Okraku's leadership has not only revitalized Ghana's on-field performance but has also significantly impacted football off the field, heralding a positive change in a short time.
Mr. Pinnick served as President of the Nigeria Football Federation from 2014 to 2022 and held the position of First Vice President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) from September 2018 to July 2019. He was also a member of the Organizing Committee for FIFA competitions.
Mr. Pinnick's praise underscores the commendable progress achieved by Kurt Okraku during his tenure as President of the GFA, which has revitalized Ghanaian football on both national and international stages.
Reporting by Simon Asare: Editing by Adewale Adejoke