Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Okraku has opened up on the difficult decision to part ways with Black Stars Head Coach Otto Addo, describing it as a necessary step taken for the good of the nation.
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Speaking exclusively to 3Sports, Okraku admitted the meeting with the outgoing coach was emotionally challenging given the strong working relationship they had built since 2022.
“As human as we are, I mean, and having worked since 2022, we’ve had a good working relationship,” he said.
“But at the end, as leaders as we are, it’s always important for us to look at ourselves in our faces and speak about issues that concern us and how we can progress as individuals and as a collective.”
Kurt Okraku further explained that leadership sometimes requires making difficult decisions in the interest of the bigger picture, stressing that the move was guided by a collective responsibility.
At what point the decision was made, the GFA President pointed to the need to remain dynamic and responsive as a leader, noting that input from stakeholders also played a key role.
“First of all, I would say, without being proud, with all humility, that I’m a leader who is dynamic, I’m a leader who is honest to issues around me, and I’m a team player, which is most important. And I think that when leading the team, you may have your strong opinions about issues, but there are moments that you need to listen to the team for the greater good of our country. And at this moment, we thought it’s Ghana first, and we have to go in a different direction,” he explained.