Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) Vice President George Afriyie has questioned the decision to form a five-member committee to search for the next Black Stars head coach, arguing that the association should have identified potential replacements before Carlos Queiroz’s departure.
The Black Stars coaching position became vacant after Queiroz and the GFA mutually agreed to part ways following Ghana’s poor start to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
Ghana lost 2-0 to Côte d’Ivoire in their opening Group C match before suffering a 4-2 home defeat to The Gambia, leaving the Black Stars without a point from their first two matches.
Following Queiroz’s departure, the GFA and the Ministry of Sports and Recreation constituted a five-member Technical Search Committee to identify, assess and recommend a suitable candidate for the vacant position.
The committee is chaired by former GFA Vice President Fred Pappoe, with former Black Stars internationals Anthony Baffoe and Stephen Appiah, legal practitioner and football administrator Agbesi Dzakpasu, and high-performance specialist Faisal Chibsah completing the panel.
The committee is expected to submit its report to the GFA by Friday, October 9.
However, speaking to Sporty FM, Afriyie said the search for a new coach should have begun long before the position became vacant.
“I personally think that there was no need for the formation of a committee at this level,” Afriyie said.
He cited France and Côte d’Ivoire as examples of countries he believes have adopted a more proactive approach to coaching changes.
According to Afriyie, the GFA should continuously monitor potential candidates, conduct background checks and establish contact with coaches who could take charge of the national team when the need arises.
He pointed to Zinedine Zidane as an example of the type of candidate France could have identified in advance, while also referencing Côte d’Ivoire’s previous experience with Hervé Renard.
Afriyie said the responsibility for securing a head coach for the Black Stars ultimately rests with the GFA rather than the Ministry of Sports and Recreation.
“I don't blame the Minister. The problem is not the Minister's problem, the problem is GFA's problem. Because it is the duty of the GFA to get us a coach,” he said.
He also dismissed the perception that the Ministry is deeply involved in the day-to-day selection of the national team coach, saying its role is largely to receive information from the football association.
The debate comes as Ghana prepares for a crucial November double-header against Somalia in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, with the Black Stars seeking to revive their campaign after two consecutive defeats.
Meanwhile, the five-member committee is expected to complete its assessment and submit its recommendation as the GFA works to fill the vacant coaching position.
