Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) Vice President George Afriyie has reignited calls for structural reform in the administration of the Ghana Premier League, advocating for the establishment of an independent body to oversee the competition.
His remarks come against the backdrop of persistent concerns surrounding questionable officiating decisions and the growing shadow of betting-related controversies, issues that have repeatedly threatened the league’s credibility.
In an interview with Asempa FM, Afriyie argued that the state’s increasing financial involvement in domestic football makes it imperative for the top-flight league to be managed with higher standards of accountability and professionalism.
“With the government now investing in our league, I believe the leadership of the Ghana Football Association must set up a different body to run the league,” he said.
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“The Premier League must be independent. It should be managed by an autonomous body to ensure professionalism and transparency.”
Afriyie stressed that such a body should operate outside the daily administrative structure of the GFA, while still remaining answerable within the broader football governance framework.
“The league should be separated from the secretariat of the Football Association, and the autonomous body should be reporting to the General Secretary,” he explained.
The proposal is not entirely new. Back in 2019, GFA President Kurt Okraku publicly committed to transitioning the Premier League to independent management. That vision was later supported by a high-powered committee chaired by Togbe Afede XIV, which submitted a set of recommendations on the matter.
Despite those efforts, the proposals remain unimplemented, leaving the league under the direct control of the GFA. Afriyie’s renewed call adds pressure on football authorities to revisit the reforms and finally translate long-standing promises into concrete action.
