By Alexis Laura Daniels
Ghana’s leading 24hrs sports television channel GTV Sports+ would be airing an exclusive documentary dubbed “Saving Our Passion”, on Thursday, February 10, 2022.
The most anticipated program would see experienced broadcaster Karl Tuffour sitting with current and former presidents of the Ghana Football Association to discuss the current state of football in Ghana.
Ghana’s ego got bruised in the recently held Africa cup of Nations where the Black Stars were eliminated at the group phase by less fancied side Comoros to the disappointment of many soccer enthusiasts across the continent.
In a bid to revive the dwindling nature of the sport, the most reliable and dedicated sports channel GTV Sports plus has put together all the eminent personalities who have occupied the topmost position of the country’s football governing body for round table deliberation for the way forward.
Personalities expected to grace the occasion on Thursday at 8pm are Nana Sam Brew Butler, Alhaji NMD Jawula, Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe, Kwasi Nyantakyi and the current GFA President Kurt Okraku as we learn about the state and structure of Ghanaian football through their distinguished eyes.
Here’s a brief insight about each of the speakers and their time at the summit:
Samuel Brew-Butler was the GFA President from 1993-1997, an era which saw the Black Starlets capture gold at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 1995.
Lepowura Alhaji M.N.D Jawula served as the GFA President from 1997 to 2001, during which the focus on the development of the youth was evident with the second-place finish of the Black Satellites at the U-20 World Cup in 2001 in Argentina, as well as the Black Starlets finishing 2nd and 3rd at the 1997 and 1999 U-17 World Cups respectively.
Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe was the head of the Ghana Football Association from 2001-2005, in which time the Black Stars failed to qualify for the 2004 AFCON, and thereafter laid the blocks for what would soon become a golden era for the senior men’s national team.
Kwasi Nyantakyi took charge from 2005-2018 and oversaw the Black Stars reach 3 successive World Cups, reaching the quarterfinals on one occasion at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa
Kurt Okraku is the current GFA President, having taken over in 2019, and has so far been credited with the improved image of the Ghana Premier League thanks to a broadcasting deal with StarTimes.