Former President of the Nigeria Football Association Amaju Melvin Pinnick says Ghana Football has seen significant progress under the leadership of President Kurt Edwin Simon-Okraku.

The 52-year old was addressing the media in Accra on Monday ahead of the GFA Elective Congress in Tamale on Thursday, October 5, 2023.

The Kurt Okraku led administration has been in office for the past four years after taking over from the Dr. Kofi Amoah led Normalisation Committee following the resignation of former President Kwasi Nyantakyi in June 2018.

‘’Under his (Kurt) leadership in the last four years, everybody knows what COVID did to the world. It did not only waste our precious time but affected other businesses, took lives and made things difficult for everybody. In spite of that you look at the rejuvenation between an early exit from the Africa Cup of Nations Cup and qualification to the World when nobody gave Ghana any hope’’ President Pinnick said.

‘’And even Ghana going to the World Cup, they didn’t mess up at the World Cup; they also brought their head out. Also look at your Women’s team (Champions - Ampem Darkoa Ladies) that came to Nigeria to win the WAFU B Cup to qualify for the Women’s Champions League so let me tell you something when you want to build a foundation you need time build’’.

‘’So it’s not just on the field of participation and winning. But also what he has done off the field that affects things on the field is unbelievable. I can tell you that he (Kurt) has done very well to bring back the game to a good level within a very short period of time’’ he added.

Amaju Melvin Pinnick was President of the Nigeria Football Federation from 2014 to 2022 and was also First Vice President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) from September 2018 to July 2019, and a member of the Organising Committee for FIFA competitions. He currently serves on the FIFA Executive Council after succeeding Kwasi Nyantakyi in 2018.

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