CAF President Congratulates Kurt On Re-election

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) president, Dr Patrice Motsepe has congratulated the re-elected President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku.

In a statement quoted on the website of the GFA, President Motsepe said his massive win in the one-way election is a testament to “trust and confidence” in his leadership.

“You have done excellent work to promote and develop football in Ghana and on the African Continent. I wish you everything of the best during the new period of your leadership and look forward to seeing you again,’’ he added.

Election
Kurt ran unopposed and retained his position as the FA president during the Elective Congress in Tamale in the Northern Region on October 5, 2023.

He garnered 117 votes from the one hundred and twenty (120) delegates. Two of the delegates voted against his election while one abstained.

The election was first scheduled for September 27, however, it was extended after being hit with a series of setbacks.

Kurt was first elected President in 2019.

Disqualification
His sole running this year followed the disqualification of George Kwasi Afriyie- his only contender in the elections.

The Elections Committee in disqualifying him said one of the five members of the GFA who signed his nomination forms on behalf of Victory Club Warriors F/C, was not a legally authorised signatory.

“For the position of GFA President, you were required to state one GFA Member proposing your Candidature and five (5) GFA Members supporting it per the GFA Statutes 2019. We therefore conclude that your endorsement by Jeffrey Asare is invalid. Due to the above invalidity, your nomination form currently has four (4) GFA Members supporting you,” the Committee conveyed in an email to Afriyie. In light of this, you do not meet the requirements to contest the election for the position of President of the GFA,” the elections committee communicated.

Appeal
Afriyie appealed the decision on September 8, 2023, but it was upheld by the Appeals Committee.

The Committee in its ruling on September 15, 2023, said its decision followed a thorough review of Afriyie’s appeal against his disqualification.

Injunction
Following this, Afriyie filed an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) as well as an application for an injunction on the GFA presidential elections.

This, however, could not stop the FA from carrying on with the election today.