The President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has launched a blistering critique of domestic coaching standards, calling them “very poor” as he opened the first CAF Licence A course in the country for seven years.
Addressing a cohort of elite tactical minds at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram, Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku did not hold back.
Despite his dual role as GFA boss and CAF Second Vice-President, Okraku admitted he has been deeply dissatisfied with the technical quality on Ghanaian sidelines.
The intensive 10-day programme, which marks a significant milestone for football development in Ghana, aims to bridge a widening gap in technical expertise.
“Coaching in Ghana is very poor,” Okraku told the participants on Thursday. “I have never been happy and have made my views known. Coaching standards have been poor, and I really mean it.”
However, the GFA President clarified that his critique was directed at the general landscape rather than a lack of individual talent.
He urged the 20 selected coaches—the first batch to sit the course since 2017—to lead a “historic” turnaround for the national game.
“You should count yourself blessed for being part of this historic group,” he added. “You have an opportunity to make our football attractive at both the youth and top levels.”
The CAF Licence A is one of the continent’s most prestigious technical qualifications. It is the gold standard required for those aspiring to manage top-flight Ghana Premier League clubs or take the reins of national teams.
The return of the course to Prampram is seen as a vital step in the GFA’s technical development drive.
The 20 elite coaches currently in residence are undergoing a rigorous curriculum that blends modern tactical principles with advanced match preparation.
The syllabus also places a heavy emphasis on performance analysis using the latest technology, alongside modules dedicated to player development and elite leadership during practical field sessions at the Ghanaman Centre.
For years, the absence of high-level certification courses in Ghana has forced many local coaches to look elsewhere or remain stagnant in their professional growth.
By restoring the Licence A pathway, the GFA hopes to ensure that Ghanaian football can once again compete with the tactical sophistication seen in the top leagues across North and South Africa.
Successful candidates will emerge from the 10-day retreat not just with a certificate, but with the responsibility of “changing the narrative” of a footballing nation hungry for a return to its glory days.
