Kurt Okraku

Kurt E. S. Okraku
President of the Ghana Football Association
In office
2019–Present
Preceded byKwesi Nyantakyi
Personal details
Born
Kurt Edwin Simon Okraku

1971 (age 52–53)
Ghana
Alma mater
OccupationFootball administrator

Kurt Edwin Simon Okraku (born June 1, 1971)[1] is a Ghanaian football administrator who has served as the President of the Ghana Football Association since October 2019.[2][3][4][5] He is a former sports journalist and past Executive Chairman of Dreams.[6][7] He also served on various executive committees of the Ghana Football Association as well as the national team, the Ghana Black Stars.[8][9][10]

Early life and education

After completing his secondary education at Ghana Senior High School, Koforidua, Okraku began his official association with football in early 1996 when he formed the colts club. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Ghana.[11][8] He trained as a journalist at the Ghana Institute of Journalism.[12] He received his MBA from the University of Liverpool.[13][14] While in the UK, he also received instruction in marketing, hospitality, and tourism management.[11]

Career

He established a colt football club, Shooting Stars FC when he was 17 years old and was also the Director of the Jawara Babies Colt Club.[15] From 1996 to 1999, he was a presenter and sports presenter for Radio Univers 105.7 FM, campus radio of the University of Ghana, Legon and concurrently served as the public relations officer for Afienya United FC, Tema and at the Public Relations Department, Ministry of Youth and Sports (1997–98) and the sports editor for Groove FM (1998–99).[12][15] Between 1999 and 2000, he was the Deputy Sports Editor, Network Broadcasting Ltd, owners of Radio Gold.[12][13] He was the Communications and Marketing Director of Accra Hearts of Oak S.C. between 2006 and 2007.

He worked for sports marketing companies in the UK and Israel.[8] He was the Communications and marketing director of Accra Hearts of Oak between 2006 and 2007.[15] He was the administrative manager of Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) from 2008 to 2010. He became general manager of Wassaman in 2011.[16] He is the Chairman of the Board of Dream FC. He is also the owner of Dream League Soccer (DLS)- a popular mobile soccer game developed and published by First Touch Game(FTG).

Ghana Football Association

Okraku on 29 October 2019 became the president of the Ghana Football Association.[17] He became the first president of the Ghana Football Association after the Anas ''exposay,"[18] which led the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA), with the president of the Republic of Ghana dissolving the Ghana FA in 2017. Upon his election as the new GFA president, the FIFA President, Gianni Infantino sent a congratulatory message to him and members of the new Executive Council of the GFA.[19] Kurt E.S Okraku chaired the Ghana Football Association FA Cup committee.[20] Speaking on the numbers of players who leave the Ghanaian Leagues to join foreign leagues, he mentioned that there will be a need for investment in local leagues to help curb the situation.[21]

The GFA announced the exclusive list for its presidential election on Monday August 4, 2023, confirming that the incumbent, Kurt Okraku, and the former GFA vice president, George Afriyie, have successfully submitted their forms for the eminent role.[22] On Thursday, October 5, 2023, Simon Okraku was re-elected as the president of the Ghana Football Association at the Global Dream Hotel, Tamale.[23][24][25][26][27][28][29]

In October 2024, he delivered a speech to the players of Black Stars which was condemned on the internet after it was posted online.[30]

References

  1. ^ https://www.songs.com.gh/ghana-fa-president-kurt-okraku-celebrated-on-his-52nd-birthday/
  2. ^ "Ghana FA: Kurt Okraku was elected as new president after three rounds of voting". October 25, 2019. Archived from the original on October 25, 2019. Retrieved October 25, 2019 – via www.myjoyonline.com.
  3. ^ Eric Nana Yaw, Kwafo (25 October 2019). "Kurt Okraku Plans To Step Down As Dreams FC CEO When Elected GFA President". Modern Ghana. Archived from the original on 25 October 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  4. ^ "Kurt Okraku: New Ghana FA president embraces opportunity for change". 2019-10-27. Archived from the original on 2019-10-28. Retrieved 2019-10-28.
  5. ^ "Kurt Okraku, Biography". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2023-09-28.
  6. ^ "Meet Kurt Okraku, the hand behind Dreams FC, Baba Rahman". Graphic Online. October 21, 2015. Archived from the original on October 25, 2019. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  7. ^ "Kurt Okraku: The Man Who Brought Professionalism To Ghana Football". Modern Ghana. Archived from the original on 2019-10-25. Retrieved 2019-10-25.
  8. ^ a b c "Profile of the new President of the Ghana FA Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku". GhanaSoccernet. Archived from the original on 2019-10-26. Retrieved 2019-10-28.
  9. ^ GNA (2023-07-14). "Fixing the Fundamentals: Understanding, Evaluating Kurt Okraku's National Football Philosophy". Ghana News Agency. Retrieved 2023-08-23.
  10. ^ Ayamga, Emmanuel (2019-10-28). "Biography of new GFA President, Kurt Okraku". Pulse Ghana. Retrieved 2023-09-28.
  11. ^ a b "Profile: New GFA President Kurt Okraku, in his own words". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2019-10-28.
  12. ^ a b c Online, Peace FM. "Profile Of The New President Of GFA Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku". www.peacefmonline.com. Archived from the original on 2019-10-26. Retrieved 2019-10-28.
  13. ^ a b "Ghana FA: Kurt Okraku is elected as new president after three rounds of voting". 2019-10-25. Archived from the original on 2019-10-28. Retrieved 2019-10-28.
  14. ^ "Kurt Okraku stands out in Presidential debate with concrete solutions for Ghana football". GhanaSoccernet. Archived from the original on 2019-10-23. Retrieved 2019-10-28.
  15. ^ a b c "Profile: New GFA President Kurt Okraku, in his own words". www.myjoyonline.com. Archived from the original on 2019-10-25. Retrieved 2019-10-28.
  16. ^ "Profile of the new President of the Ghana FA Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku". GhanaSoccernet. Retrieved 2020-01-04.
  17. ^ Association, Ghana Football. "Kurt E.S Okraku elected as Ghana FA President". www.ghanafa.org. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
  18. ^ "Number 12: Ghana FA begins charging implicated individuals of famous Anas corruption expose | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
  19. ^ Association, Ghana Football. "Fifa President congratulates Kurt Okraku, Executive Council Members". www.ghanafa.org. Retrieved 2023-09-29.
  20. ^ "MTN FA Cup Committee chairman Kurt Okraku promises 'unmissable' final between Hearts and Kotoko". GhanaSoccernet. 2017-10-17. Retrieved 2021-08-18.
  21. ^ https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/It-will-take-time-to-curb-player-exodus-Ghana-FA-leader-Kurt-Okraku-1841726
  22. ^ "GFA confirm Kurt Okraku and George Afriyie presidential nominations". GhanaWeb. 2023-08-15. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
  23. ^ "Kurt Okraku re-elected as GFA President in landslide victory". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  24. ^ "Kurt Okraku retains position as GFA boss, Kwesi Appiah wins Exco position". sportsbrief.com. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  25. ^ "Kurt Okraku re-elected as Ghana FA President".
  26. ^ Ayamga, Emmanuel (2023-10-05). "Breaking: Kurt Okraku re-elected for 2nd term as Ghana FA president". Pulse Ghana. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  27. ^ Association, Ghana Football. "President Simeon-Okraku thanks Tamale for support following re-election". www.ghanafa.org. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  28. ^ "Kurt Okraku re-elected as President of Ghana Football Association". GhanaWeb. 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  29. ^ "Kurt Okraku re-elected GFA President for second term after going unopposed - MyJoyOnline". www.myjoyonline.com. 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  30. ^ Mintah, Yaw Loic (2024-10-22). "He was pushed to that limit- Wilson Arthur on Kurt Okraku's infamous speech". Citi Sports Online. Retrieved 2024-10-22.


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