Commentary

Why GFA needs to consider recommendations by Former GFA bosses to re-engineer Ghana’s Football

By Jerome Otchere

Last Thursday, four eminent sports icons, Nana Sam Brew Butler; Lepowura MND Jawula; Dr. Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe and Kwesi Nyantakyi had an excellent bite of issues on sports in the country. They gave finer insights that left viewers informed regarding the state of Ghana’s passion, football. Host Karl Tuffouh navigated his panel expertly in their comfortable setting as well. The serenity with which Nana Butler’s views came was admirably the same as that of Alhaji Jawula. In their cases, the saying that age comes with knowledge and experience is true. Same as Dr. Tamakloe whose insights were refreshing. Thrilling was the fact that, Dr. Tamalkoe hasn’t lost the bluntness and candour that clouded his opinions.Dr. Tamakloe essentially thrashed the choice of Otto Addo as Black Stars Head Coach on grounds that he abandoned the ship for his business at the time the nation needed him. One cannot fault Otto Addo because the GFA has obstinately stuck to him as a part-time, pay-as-you-go coach for reasons only they can explain.

Nevertheless, the panel’s views on sponsorship; especially that of Nyantakyi was instructive. Listening to him, one could reflect on his reign as GFA boss. Maybe, sometime to come, Ghana football must have proper reflections on #12. The maturity the panel displayed talking about government-GFA relationship was on point. FIFA might have its stance, the cooperation agreement must have come at an opportune time yet given Africa’s peculiar governance issues, football associations like that of the GFA need common sense with law for mutual benefit. Mr. Nyantakyi made the night with his take on the independence of coaches when Karl referred to the infamous April 2021 declaration by GFA President, Kurt Okraku that coaches will no longer be the only ones deciding who plays for national teams.

This Mr Tuffour called it a “PR disaster” and indeed, it is. In Nyantakyi, who ran the GFA for 13 years view, Otto Addo should operate as a man of his own and select players on the basis of their own merit”. Though this is the way to go, it simply will not happen. With these appointments being compromised, lacking farsighted or key long-term ingredients will be the monster that will interfere on Otto’s fertile grounds as the case of CK Akonnor. The country and for that matter, the GFA, Sports Ministry and all other stakeholders have a tough task ahead of them. That is preparation for the March encounter of the black star with Nigeria and subsequently getting ready for Quarter 2024.

It was therefore a good show to gather all the experts who indeed brought out the issues as they were and proposed solutions to them. If followed as expected, the black stars who are currently not in good shape could bounce back and hopefully get to the Quarter and make the country proud.