Okraku sets standard with ‘GameChanger’ manifesto

Mr Kurt Edwin Simeon Okraku, an aspirant of the upcoming Ghana Football Association (GFA) presidential election, delivered an impressive manifesto that was likely to send shivers down the spine of his opponents at a spectacular launch at the plush Exim Bank auditorium in Accra yesterday.Running with the slogan #GameChanger...

Igniting Passion and Creating Wealth for All, a vintage Mr Okraku, at his oratory best, held the packed audience, including another aspirant, Mr George Afriyie, and some bigwigs in the football industry, spellbound with the highlights of his broad-based vision, as well as the sources of funding for those laudable ideas.

The maiden manifesto launch was chaired by Mrs Hillary Boaten, Human Resources Manager of Springfield Group, which Mr Okraku said was an affirmation of his belief in promoting gender equity.

When he eventually took to the stage, Mr Okraku touted his long preparation for the top GFA job which began from age 17 when he formed a colts club, Shooting Stars, for which he featured as a player, coach and bankroller.

Preparation for the job

He said as part of his preparation for football’s biggest job, the football administrator and former media practitioner also undertook courses in marketing, sports tourism, information technology and football management in the United Kingdom before returning home to form Premier League side, Dreams FC, in 2009.

According to him, the successes chalked up by Dreams FC and his association with MTN FA Cup as a member, vice chairman and chairman since its revival in 2010 attest to his capabilities.

He said he intended to unite the football family to create a future everybody would be proud of under the principles of transparency, accountability and proper annual auditing.

Kurt Okraku Manifesto on Scribd

He promised to help Premier and Division One clubs to get basic infrastructural and logistical support such as upgrading of pitches and the supply of computers and internet facilities.

In addition, each club would receive 50 footballs and 30 pairs of boots annually, while elite women’s clubs will be supplied with 30 pairs of boots annually and will also play their league matches on approved league centres to make women’s football more appealing.

“Also, the Premier League and the Division One League will be autonomous. We need full-time staff to independently manage our most treasured assets,” he stressed.

Citing the example of Dreams FC, which boasts of a four-year kit sponsorship deal with Nike through the use of their intangible assets such as Baba Rahman and Emmanuel Lomotey, Okraku noted that the GFA could do same by engaging its kit sponsor, Puma, to provide kit for the clubs.

Revival of Colts football

Okraku hinted that he would revive and package colts football throughout the country to make it more appealing to corporate Ghana, and also establish a fully functional technical directorate for the FA.

He also plans to strengthen the GFA secretariat with a full-time General Secretary, with marketing and communication departments also manned by full-time personnel.