Sports journalist Jerome Otchere has questioned the relevance of Stephen Appiah’s role in the Black Stars’ newly reconstituted management committee.  

“If you take, for instance, the role that Stephen Appiah is going to play, they say he’s going to be a link between the technical team or is it the FA and the players. Then what’s the job of the coach? What’s the job of the team manager? What’s the job of the technical team?” he asked.

"Doesn’t the technical team structure accommodate player issues and is able to deal with player issues?

"Yes, he’s an ex-footballer and a good one at that. So he comes down to manage player relations. Exactly what is the job of the coach, the Black Stars coach, our premium national team? If the coach cannot maintain good relations with players, then how is he going to coach them?”

In the Citi Sports interview, the respected sports analyst clarified he had no axe to grind with Appiah but in fact, saw the entire idea of a management committee for the Black Stars as redundant.

He intimated also, Appiah's post was simply a PR move to satisfy fans who have long wanted to see the former Black Stars captain assume an executive role in national football.

"How is he going to coach the players? You don’t need a link. This is a creation of the FA, just to satisfy interests that some of us struggle to understand. So, I am not for the whole idea of having management committees, but I’m not the one running the FA. I’m not running the Black Stars either."

Appiah was originally appointed to the Black Stars management committee in 2022. He was recently named Vice to Chairman Randy Abbey.

The GFA said he would handle player relations, working alongside Dr Abbey to provide the Black Stars the necessary support.