Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Okraku has dismissed suggestions that the recent withdrawals from the Black Stars squad are linked to problems involving the team, the GFA or the technical team.

Ghana have been forced to make several changes to the squad ahead of their opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké on Thursday.

Mohammed Kudus, Antoine Semenyo, Thomas Partey, Jordan Ayew, Baba Rahman, Nathaniel Adjei and Alidu Seidu are among those unavailable through injury or personal reasons.

Okraku, however, said the withdrawals were genuine and urged the media not to read too much into the situation.

“Jordan Ayew has been one of the best players and one of the players we can always count on, but after an MRI scan, the medical team told Ayew and Baba Rahman to focus on their clubs, and we can invite them in the future,” he said in an interview with Asempa FM.

He said Semenyo had also suffered a reaction after playing for his club over the weekend.

“Semenyo played over the weekend and had a reaction, which is normal. Antoine was willing to come, but the truth is that he had a swollen leg, which prevented him from coming,” Okraku said.

“As a federation, we know the medical history of all the players.

“We should not overstretch this discussion because the situation at hand is real. These players are injured, and that is the fact. It has nothing to do with the technical team or the Football Association.”

Okraku also clarified that Jordan Ayew did not turn down his invitation to join the Black Stars.

“Jordan Ayew didn’t turn down the Black Stars call-up. But he has some medical challenges. He flew all the way to Ghana and you saw him in camp, and our doctor took him to a medical facility for MRI, which detected his injury,” he said.

The GFA president also praised Ayew's commitment to the national team.

“Jordan Ayew has served the Black Stars for so many years. He’s extremely dedicated to the Black Stars. It doesn’t matter whether it’s in the morning, afternoon or dawn, if you invite him, he’ll turn up,” he added.

The withdrawals have led to late additions to Carlos Queiroz's squad.

Osasuna defender Rockson Yeboah has received his first senior call-up, while Jonas Adjetey, Ebenezer Annan, Rahim Ibrahim, Brandon Thomas-Asante, Mohammed Fuseini, Benjamin Tetteh and Felix Afena-Gyan have also been added.

Ghana arrived in Bouaké on Wednesday ahead of Thursday's Group C qualifier against Côte d’Ivoire.

The team is expected to hold its final training session at the Stade de la Paix, the venue for the match.

Ghana opened camp in Accra on Monday and trained at the Accra Sports Stadium before travelling to Côte d’Ivoire. Eighteen players took part in Tuesday's training session.

The Black Stars are beginning their bid to return to the Africa Cup of Nations after failing to qualify for the 2025 tournament in Morocco.

Ghana will return home to face The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on September 27 before playing Morocco in an international friendly in Tangier on October 4.

Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, The Gambia and Somalia make up Group C of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.