FULL STATEMENT: President Okraku’s speech at the launch of the National Football Philosophy

The Ghana Football Association, on Wednesday, launched their Football Philosophy (DNA) which aims at redefining football from the grassroot level in the West African country.

Led by the Technical Director of the FA – Bernhard Lippert – Ghana football will now be guided by a conscious structure to develop the game from the grassroot.

The Football Philosophy include, but not limited to, talent identification and development, clubs football, women’s football, refereeing, scouting, national team football, among others.

Retired football players, former Ghanaian international players, coaches, football administrators, members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Youth, Sports, and Culture, and Ghana Football Association executives attended the event, which was held in the Africa Trade House Conference Room.

At the launch of the document that will be redefining football in the West African country, the Ghana FA President lauded the effort from the Technical Directorate acknowledging the fact that football will never be the same in a few years to come for the 4-time African champions.

Below is the full statement of the Ghana FA President – Kurt Edwin Simeon Okraku:

Today marks a momentous epoch in the history of Ghana Football.

Today, we outdoor a critically important building block in our framework for fixing the fundamentals of Ghana Football.

Never in the history of this dear nation of ours has there been this thorough scientific treatment of our Football, leading to the production of a comprehensive publication that clearly identifies our football characteristics, strengths, weaknesses, values and history and puts forward a clear picture of our football identity.

Drawing on imagery from the field of genetics, we have christened this publication, Ghana’s Football DNA. An organism’s DNA refers to its unique genetic codes and specific set of instructions through which it functions. It is that by which a thing is specifically recognized.

Over the years, there have been references to Ghana’s brand of Football. I recall descriptive terms such as multi system (coined by our celebrated late National Coach, Sam Arday of blessed memory) and ‘Agoro’ (coined by many a Ghanaian and, in recent times, championed by the mercurial legend of Ghana Football, Mohammed Ahmed Polo). We hear about the Brazilian samba….We hear about the German machine….We hear about the Italian catenaccio… Indeed, these are but a few examples of how nation-states have built identities for their Football.

As we, at the Ghana Football Association have said, time without number, the Fundamentals of our Football need to be strengthened if we are to take our rightful place amongst the football nations of the world.

It is in this vein that the idea to identify the threads of our Football DNA was conceived; today marks the birth of this new baby for Ghana Football. The Football DNA is a long-term, step-by-step plan that fosters growth and excellence in Football.

We outdoor our new baby, confident in the fact that it shall form the bedrock for our football development, drawing on relevant scientific studies and clearly outlining the brand that Ghana Football ought to be.

This work has been led by our hardworking Technical Director of the Ghana Football Association, Mr. Bernard Lippert, who worked with several industry professionals from across the football ecosystem to deliver what we present to the good people of Ghana today. Thank you, Bernard and the team, for your yeoman’s job. Ghana will forever be indebted to you.

This publication is a must-read for everyone working at all levels of Ghana Football. It will synchronize our development program right from the grassroots to the heights of our Football pyramid and ensure that when Ghanaian teams are playing anywhere, they will be distinctly recognizable.

While Football continues to evolve and develop and change over the years in the face of technology, we need to have our distinctive style of play while employing these new and advanced traits that fit into our game.

The implementation phase of this project is vital.

I remain confident that members of the technical sector, i.e. coaches, technical directors, sports teachers, physical trainers and many others within this category, can transform our Football, as they remain essential in the change we yearn to see in our Football from this day onwards.

Witnessing the fruits of today’s launch may require time—days, weeks, months, or even years. However, with patience, the results will reflect the sacrifice and collective commitment we dedicate to this new pathway.

It is my humble pleasure to invite you all into a deeper exploration of Ghana’s Football Philosophy as we continue laying the foundation for Ghana’s resurgence as a Football nation.

Thank you for your kind attention and may God bless us all!