Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, serving as President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and Second Vice President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has expressed solidarity with club owners by acknowledging the ongoing financial difficulties they encounter in sustaining operations within Ghana’s domestic leagues.
These challenges include inconsistent revenue streams from gate receipts, sponsorships, and broadcast deals, alongside the high costs of travel, and maintenance, often leaving clubs operating at a loss or relying heavily on personal funding from owners.
In recent engagements, particularly during his nationwide regional tours—such as the historic visit to Wa in the Upper West Region—Okraku has directly addressed club owners, administrators, and other stakeholders, emphasizing a “bottom-up” approach to revitalizing Ghanaian football.
He has highlighted the GFA’s efforts to ease these burdens through targeted interventions, including unprecedented financial injections and logistical support aimed at improving sustainability at all levels, from the Ghana Premier League (GPL) down to Division One, Women’s leagues, and grassroots programs.
Notably, ahead of the 2025/26 season, the GFA—under Okraku’s leadership—secured partnerships that delivered a minimum of GH¢1 million in direct cash support to each GPL club before the campaign began.
This initiative, part of collaborations like the one with ADESA Productions for enhanced broadcast and production quality, represents a record level of assistance intended to stabilize club finances, cover operational expenses, support player welfare, and boost competitiveness.
Additional aid has included the provision of footballs, boots, and full absorption of costs for referees, match commissioners, and media personnel in lower divisions, where clubs have received direct cash grants such as GH¢120,000 alongside other relief measures.
Okraku has also pointed to broader improvements in domestic league funding, such as enhanced television exposure—with the GPL benefiting from superior production values and select Division One zones airing on free-to-air platforms for greater visibility and potential revenue growth.
While infrastructure remains a persistent issue, with many stadiums and facilities needing upgrades to attract larger crowds and sponsors, he has framed these challenges within a long-term vision of “fixing the fundamentals,” committing to inclusive growth that recognizes the sacrifices of club owners and administrators.
Through these actions and public statements, Okraku has positioned himself as an advocate for club owners, expressing appreciation for their resilience amid limited resources and underscoring that collective progress requires addressing financial strains head-on to foster a more robust and self-sustaining football ecosystem in Ghana and across Africa.