Kurt-Okraku pays homage to Wa-Naa, seeks royal prayers and support ahead of Ghana football’s busy 2026 calendar

President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, has paid homage to the Wa-Naa and Overlord of the Waala Traditional Council, His Royal Majesty Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo VI, at the Wa-Naas Palace in Wa, as part of his ongoing tour of the Upper West Region.

The visit formed a key pillar of the Presidents engagement with traditional leadership in the region, highlighting the enduring role of chiefs and opinion leaders in promoting unity, peace and development through football.

President Simeon-Okraku formally paid his respects to the revered ruler and his kinsmen and appealed for prayers and continued support for Ghana football, particularly as the nation prepares for an intense and historic international calendar in 2026.

He noted that the year ahead will be one of the busiest in Ghanas football history, with several national teams set to compete on major continental and global stages. The Black Stars are scheduled to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, while the Black Queens will feature at the 2026 Womens Africa Cup of Nations. The Black Starlets and Black Maidens are also set to return to international competition, alongside the Black Princesses and other national teams.

2026 will be a very busy year for our national teams, President Simeon-Okraku stated.The Black Stars will be at the World Cup, the Black Starlets are returning to the continental championship, the Black Maidens are back, and the Princesses, among others, will also be very active.

In a heartfelt appeal, the GFA President called on the Wa-Naa and the Waala Traditional Council to offer the same level of prayers and support previously extended to his predecessor, former GFA President Kwasi Nyantakyi, a native of the land who played a significant role in the advancement of Ghana football.

I will respectfully plead with our revered king and his kinsmen to pray for our national teams, offering the same level of support that was given to President Kwasi Nyantakyi, who also played his part in advancing football in this country, he added.

President Simeon-Okraku expressed profound gratitude to the Wa-Naa for the warm reception and the unwavering support of traditional authorities in fostering unity and development through football.

The visit to the Wa-Naas Palace marked a major highlight of the Presidents stay in the Upper West Region, which represents the first leg of his tour of the three Northern Regions. During the tour, he inspected football facilities and held a series of strategic meetings with key stakeholders as part of the GFAs broader mission to strengthen grassroots development and deepen stakeholder engagement across the country.