Former Vice President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), George Afriyie, has voiced strong criticism of the current GFA administration under Kurt Okraku, accusing them of mishandling the Black Stars coaching role with a “trial and error” strategy.

Afriyie lamented the lack of stability and direction in the team, citing the frequent changes in head coaches over the past five years as a major factor behind the national team’s struggles.

The coaching merry-go-round began in 2020 when CK Akonnor was appointed after Kwesi Appiah’s dismissal. However, Akonnor was soon sacked, paving the way for Milovan Rajevac. Rajevac’s tenure ended abruptly following the Black Stars’ early exit from the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Otto Addo, initially an interim coach, guided the team to the 2022 World Cup but resigned after their group-stage elimination.

Chris Hughton, who served as a technical advisor, was next in line but was dismissed after the team failed to progress past the 2023 AFCON group stage in Ivory Coast. Surprisingly, the GFA turned back to Otto Addo in March 2024, offering him a long-term deal, but under his leadership, the Black Stars failed to qualify for the 2025 AFCON.

Afriyie did not hold back, questioning the GFA’s decision-making process and highlighting Otto Addo’s inexperience as a head coach, alongside the limited expertise of his assistants.

“Coach CK [Akonnor] was sacked, you brought in Milovan Rajevac. Milo was sacked, and Otto Addo took over. Otto said he was not ready for the job long-term, and when he left, Chris Hughton came in. Chris was also sacked, and Otto was brought back. What are we doing? Is it not trial and error?” Afriyie asked.

He continued, “Otto Addo had never been a head coach of any serious team before. If you bring in an inexperienced coach, you need top-notch assistants, but that has not been the case. During the World Cup, we had Otto Addo with assistants like Mas Ud Didi Dramani, Chris Hughton, and George Boateng, none of whom brought the needed experience.”

The former GFA Vice President believes this lack of consistency and foresight has led to confusion and poor performances. His remarks come as the Black Stars prepare for their final 2025 AFCON qualifiers against Mali at the Accra Sports Stadium.