Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Okraku says there are underlying reasons behind the Black Stars’ 44-year wait for another Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title but insists some of the issues cannot be discussed in public.

Ghana last won the continental showpiece in 1982 and have since come close to ending their drought, finishing runners-up in 1992, 2010 and 2015.

However, the four-time African champions have struggled in recent editions of the tournament, suffering back-to-back group-stage eliminations in 2021 and 2023 before failing to qualify for the 2025 edition after finishing bottom of their qualifying group.

Speaking before Parliament’s Select Committee on Sports on Wednesday, Okraku acknowledged Ghana’s prolonged failure to reclaim the continental crown despite having several generations of talented players.

“The Black Stars in 44 years have not won the AFCON. This is a statement of fact. In 44 years, we’ve had different generations of super talents, and in 44 years, we’ve been to the grand finale on three occasions,” Okraku said.

The GFA president suggested that factors contributing to Ghana’s trophy drought go beyond what can be discussed in an open parliamentary sitting.

He cautioned that making certain revelations in public could have damaging consequences, although he did not provide details of the issues he was referring to.

“There are certain reasons that I will not want to talk about here because I see cameras and whatever we say here is public. Sometimes certain truths said at a wrong time could be very damaging,” he added.

Okraku, however, expressed the GFA’s willingness to engage the committee in a private discussion to shed more light on the circumstances behind Ghana’s inability to win the competition for more than four decades.

“If this committee is very interested in going to the bottom to find perhaps that singular reason why Ghana in 44 years has not won an AFCON trophy, we can have that discussion with other cameras,” he said.

The GFA president also used the opportunity to defend the association’s independent status, emphasising that although it works closely with the government, it remains a private entity rather than a government institution.

Meanwhile, the Black Stars face an uphill task in their bid to qualify for the 2027 AFCON after losing their opening two matches in Group C.

Ghana will regroup later this month for a crucial double-header against Somalia, with the two matches presenting an opportunity to revive their qualification campaign.

The four-time African champions cannot afford further setbacks if they are to keep their hopes of returning to the continental tournament alive after missing the 2025 edition in Morocco.