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Former Black Stars captain Stephen Appiah has been approached by the Ghana Football Association (GFA), to serve on the reconstituted Black Stars management committee ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in March.

GFA President, Kurt Okraku, is leading efforts to reconstitute the committee, and sources indicate that four individuals are being considered for roles.

It is unclear how many people will serve on the committee, but among them are Executive Council member Dr Randy Abbey, who is expected to chair the committee; former Black Stars captain, Stephen Appiah; Richard Duah Nsenkyire, CEO of Ghana Premier League side Samartex; and Samuel Aboabri, Chairman of the Greater Accra Regional Football Association.

The President of the FA engaged Stephen Appiah during the birthday celebration of Dr Randy Abbey.

Appiah’s inclusion would mark his return to the committee after being listed as a member in 2022, though he did not attend any meetings. He has, however, expressed reservations about how past appointments and engagements were handled.

In an interview with Ghanaian TV Channel, JoySports, in June 2023, Appiah explained:

“I have never shown up for management meetings. I have my own reasons, and it’s not personal. Everyone knows I always want things done the right way.

“People think there’s bad blood between Kurt Okraku and me, but that’s not true. We are very cool and even share ideas. My concerns have always been about the process and how things are managed.”

Stephen Appiah, revealed that he has since shared his concerns with the relevant authorities, adding that “When people are given appointments, it should be done in the right way. It’s not just about me; everyone deserves to be treated properly.”

Despite these reservations, Appiah is consulting on the offer and could accept the role depending on the outcome of discussions.

For Mr Nsenkyire, it is understood the offer was made via a telephone conversation, but he is expected in Accra this week. It is unclear if there will be further discussions on the appointment and it has also been gathered that people close to him appear not to be too excited about his inclusion.

Contrary to the norm of GFA’s financial support of $30,000 for clubs representing the country in CAF inter-club competitions, Samartex was handed $15,000, and the club reportedly had to beg for the money.

Last season, Medeama SC and Dreams FC were each given $30,000, but the FA decided to allocate only half of that amount to Samartex, for their participation in the CAF Champions League. The same amount was given to Nsoatreman FC, Ghana’s representatives in the CAF Confederation Cup.

Both clubs consistently complained on the CEOs’ WhatsApp platform, but to date, the remaining $15,000 has not been disbursed. They have since decided to let the matter rest but have signalled that similar unfair treatment could be extended to other clubs in the future.

Mr Nsenkyire, considered this treatment unfair and, at some point, almost turned down the FA’s money. He is still consulting on whether he should accept the role.

Prior to the FA President settling on this list and subsequently sharing it with the rest of ExCo on their platform, sources claim Kwame Ayew and Anthony Baffoe, were potential candidates.

It is understood that one of the reasons the Black Stars failed to qualify for AFCON 2025 was the lack of leadership direction.

Meanwhile, the FA is considering the appointment of a technical director for the Black Stars. It is believed they need an experienced assistant to support Otto Addo, as Ghana seeks a second consecutive World Cup appearance under Kurt Okraku’s leadership.

Sources claim the FA is open to sharing ideas with the government to set up a World Cup Task Force to oversee the team’s preparations.

Another notable appointment could be that of a team psychologist. The Black Stars have not had one since 2019, and the FA wants to address this gap.

Team Manager Ameenu Shardow, could be replaced by a former Black Stars player to fill the role. Another possibility is partnering him with someone else, as the Team Manager’s responsibilities go beyond just paying per diems. It includes uploading documents, which requires computer literacy.

These appointments could be finalised before the next round of the World Cup qualifiers in March 2025.