GFA open to regulated partnerships with betting firms – Kurt Okraku

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) is willing to collaborate with licensed betting operators to feature domestic matches on their platforms, President Kurt Okraku has announced.

However, he emphasised that no company currently holds rights to offer wagers on Ghanaian football competitions.

Regulation Critical for Integrity & Visibility

Okraku's statement comes amid longstanding concerns about match-fixing syndicates exploiting unregulated betting markets. The GFA maintains that proper oversight is essential to:

1. Protect sporting integrity – Preventing manipulation of matches for gambling gains

Also readCarlos Queiroz and GFA part ways after Black Stars struggles

2. Generate legitimate revenue – Creating structured partnerships that benefit football development

3. Enhance league visibility – Partnering with credible platforms to expand audience reach

4. Ensure legal compliance – Aligning with national laws and international best practices

Speaking at the GFA's 31st Ordinary Congress, Okraku outlined a dual approach:

Also readLaLiga: Real Madrid beat Rayo Vallecano as Mbappe scores twice

"We are pursuing legal action locally and internationally against companies that unlawfully take bets on our leagues. No betting company is allowed to take bets on our domestic competitions."

"We are open to partnerships with credible legal betting companies who wish to engage with our football ecosystem transparently and ethically."

Why Regulation Matters

The push for structured betting partnerships addresses three key challenges:

• Illegal Operators: Unlicensed platforms currently profit from Ghanaian football without contributing to the sport.

• Match-Fixing Risks: Unregulated markets enable corruption; 37% of global match-fixing cases involve lower-division leagues (FIFA Integrity Report 2023).

• Lost Revenue: Ghana's sports betting market exceeds $50m annually, yet football sees minimal returns.

The GFA's stance mirrors global trends where federations like England's Premier League earn over £400m yearly from regulated betting sponsorships while maintaining strict anti-corruption protocols.

Also readGhana 0-4 France: Black Princesses crash out of U-20 World Cup

Next Steps

The Association plans to:

Establish clear tender processes for betting partnerships.

Implement monitoring systems to detect suspicious betting patterns.

Share intelligence with sports integrity organisations.

This regulated approach aims to transform betting from a threat to an accountable revenue stream and visibility booster for Ghanaian football. As Okraku noted, the goal is "ethical engagement" – not prohibition.