The Chairman of the erstwhile Local Orangising Committee of Ghana 2008, Dr. Kofi Amoah says the Ghana Football Association must be put to task for the poor state of the local league.
Ghana football has suffered a succession of failures lately with most of the national teams failing to perform on the international stage including the local Black Stars, the Black Meteors, Black Queens and Black Satellites.
However, the senior national team, the Black Star continue to receive rave reviews for their performances, that last of which saw them come back from a goal down to draw 1:1 with England in a friendly game at Wembley in March.
The FA appear to be clueless to the exact cause of the recent poor run but many keen observers of the game have pointed accusing fingers at the FA for its failure to develop the local league.
“I want to take this opportunity to encourage my friends at the FA, Kwesi Nyantakyi-everybody knows is my darling, I love him, I support him- but I think the FA must be put to task,” Dr. Amoah said in an exclusive interview on E TV’s Sports Lounge.
“We are failing when it comes to the domestic league and it must be said in plain black and white.
Dr. Amoah who was the chairman of the LOC which successfully hosted the African Nations Cup in 2008 decried the current state of the domestic league.
“Our local league is in shambles” he said adding that “nobody goes to the stadium to watch us.”
“Our Players are focused on getting contracts elsewhere and fly out of the country.
“Our coaches are underpaid and therefore yes, football and other sports are great assets of the nation that we must try to cultivate.
“But in cultivating it, we must understand the kind of investment that we have to make locally and begin to do things right.”
The accomplished Ghanaian entrepreneur also said that the FA cannot continue to take sole credit for the performance of the Black Star since most of the players are trained abroad.
“We must regroup and rethink through things properly otherwise we will continue to depend on them (foreign based players).
“Even though they are Ghanaians they are somebody’s product. Once they fly out of here, it is somebody else who is nurturing them.”
“Yes we are proud of them because they come from the soil of Ghana but we can’t take the pride of their exhibition from those who trained them,” Dr. Amoah stressed.
Local coaches have been partly blamed for the dwindling fortunes of the game in some quarters but many keen observers have also laid the blame squarely on the shoulders of the FA.
But Dr. Amoah, who is also known as Citizen Kofi, says there is an ever present need to inject fresh investment into the local clubs.
“Every football club in the country must be required to have a certain minimum capitalisation.
“Banks are required to pay $70million or GH 70 million before operating in this country.
“You can’t squeeze blood out of stone. It needs resources to do things right.”
The Kwesi Nyantakyi administration has come under heavy public criticism in the wake of the country’s abysmal performances coupled with the low standard of the league.
Dr. Amoah though still believes the FA leadership has the capability to turn things around.
“I think we have some experienced people at the FA but they must begin to do their work, he said.
“Yes Fifa regulation says there should be no interference but football is a passion of the nation and it is a part of the fabric of our society and we cannot sit aside and be quite if you are not doing the job right.
“They must get up and do it,” Dr. Amoah charged.
“Kwesi Nyantakyi, you have the capability, we have seen you with your passion, you have done a lot of great work.”
“Now let’s think inward, lets look back home. I have said we should put sports back in the schools,” he said.
Dr. Amoah is the second high profile personality to have directly critised the FA for its handling of the local league in recent times following that of soccer legend Abedi Ayew Pele.
Dr. Kofi Amoah was speaking to E TV’S Yaw Ampofo-Ankrah.
My life and my career.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
When transition beckons
Black Stars coach Goran Stevanovic seems to have won over his critics following the Star’s recent string of impressive performances after only two months at the helm.
When the former Partisan Belgrade manager was introduced to the football family in February, 2011, some journalist openly expressed misgivings about his appointment giving his history at his former post where he resigned under intense pressure from the home fans.
The statistics bare it all: two wins and a draw in three matches surely represents a dream start for any coach particularly considering the circumstances under which the Black Stars secured their dramatic 1:1 drawn game with England.
Indeed the Serbian has barely put a foot wrong in his early days in the Ghanaian hot seat but it will be wrong to draw any hasty conclusions because after all, in his own words the ultimate aim is to win the nation’s first major trophy since 1982.
But before that dream can be realised, there is a need to address some pressing issues because it appears some deep cracks have developed in the foundation of the team.
There is therefore a pressing need to revamp the Black Star team which has seen some players play together for the past ten years.
That is to say that some players in the current team are well past their prime and will not be around forever, meaning urgent steps need to be taken to immediately introduce new blood into the “starting lineup” of the team, especially during friendly matches.
But the big question “Plavi” as Stevanovic is nicknamed, has to answer is: do we wait for the “cracks to develop into Valleys” before finding solutions?
HISTORY OF TRANSITIONS
The country has witnessed many such smooth transitions over the years due to the abundance of talents and also the existence of good soccer structures which enables players to move through the development cycle.
The first of such transitions occurred in 1965 under legendary coach C.K Gyamfi who took the then unpopular decision of dropping all but four of the 1963 African Nations Cup winning squad ahead of their title defense in Tunisia.
Gyamfi and his team virtually left the country for Tunisia under the cover of darkness, after much public outcry over his decision to select “school boys” for such an important tournament.
But guess what, the then-little known Osei Kofi and company emerged victorious and secured Ghana’s second African Nations Cup trophy to the surprise of all. It is instructive to know that Kofi and co graduated from the Academicals to the New Horizon before national duty came.
Those structures were created by the late Ohene Djan, the nation’s first director of sports.
You might call C.K. Gyamfi and his assistant Ben Koufie magicians, but the duo knew exactly what they were doing, having observed that most of the 1963 players were ageing.
The national team has seen at least three smooth transitions ever since: the Golden boy Abdul Razak and the Mohammed Polo generation which covers the 70’ and 80’s, Abedi Pele and Tony Yeboah 90’s generation and the present generation of Stephen Appiah and Michael Essien.
The most difficult transition came in 80’s as football administrators were not seen to be putting in place proper structures as witnessed under the nation’s first sports director Ohene Djan. Some will also argue that the exodus of many locally based players to Nigeria and elsewhere had an effect on that generation.
Of all the generations, Stephen Appiah will easily be remembered for his inspirational role as he easily stands out as key to the success story of the current generation.
After a rather difficult period under the Abedi Pele/Tony Yeboah generation where the team lacked team spirit, Appiah was able to bring both the old and new players together under his captaincy.
Having won the Fifa Under 17 trophy in 1995 with the Black Starlets, Appiah seems to have done his homework very well, having observed the split in the national team as a young player, so that he knew exactly what to do when he assumed the reins in 2004.
In the words of one renowned former national team coach, “Stephen Appiah is a gift to the nation and everybody should hail him.”
The good thing though is that the coming generation of players who are likely to be captained by Andre Dede Ayew, the son of soccer legend Abedi Ayew Pele, have had the experience of playing under Appiah and are expected to take a lot of inspiration from him.
That unique experience was made largely possible by the immediate past coach of the Stars, Milovan Rejavac who took the bold step of selecting six players from the victorious 2009 Black Satellites Fifa world Cup winning team to the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola.
Post World Cup Era
In the post world cup era, many national teams have started the re-building process with much emphasis on introducing young players in their set ups. The ultimate aim is to prepare teams towards the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
I have keenly followed the exploits of Brazil and Argentina in particular who are under new coaches after getting rid of Dunga and Diego Maradona respectively after what was a disastrous world cup, by their own standards.
In an article titled “Brazil show Argentina way forward,” the BBC’s South American football correspondent Tim Vickery showed the different approach the two South American Giants are using in their quest to develop a system of play that will be suitable for their different types of play.
And more importantly how Argentina can learn a lesson or two from their rivals with regards playing a regular striker.
But of great importance is the balanced manner in which the national team coaches are simultaneously utilising their experienced and young prospects in their quest to build a winsome team.
For instance in their game with Scotland, Brazil coach Mano Menezes used Jadson and Barcelona ace Daniel Alves down the right and Andre Santos and the talented Neymar down the left flank.
Manezes also gave 21 year old striker Leandro Damiao, his debut against the Scots.
Again Argentina Coach Sergio Batista is steeply involved in gathering his team up from the ashes following their disappointing run in South Africa 2010. Batista is more concerned with finding the right balance for the attacking riches at his disposal particularly Lionel Messi.
Ever Banega has assumed a greater role in the set up as well as Ezequiel Lavezzi and Angel Di Maria.
Mention can also be made of the English who played without five regular players against the Black Star as Fabio Capello gave the home fans a glimpse of the future national team.
The Plain Truth
In the present case of Ghana, it is becoming increasingly clear that some senior players in the set up will not be able to withstand the test of time despite their unquestionable loyalty to the national cause.
Players including Captain John Mensah, John Paintsil and Richard Kingston are fast fading out and a close observation of their performance in the English Premier League will easily reveal that.
This is not to say that the above-named players are not giving off their best effort to the national team. On the contrary these players are some of the most patriotic sons of the land to date and it will be wrong to write them off immediately but their long term stay with the Stars is quite doubtful.
Mensah in particular has struggled with injuries for a greater part of the last two seasons. He is still regarded as one of the most powerful defenders in the air and barely disappoints on his day but he has been given a torrid time by some top strikers lately including Luis Suarez and Carlos Tevez.
His lack of pace is quite evident and you only wonder why his name sake Jonathan Mensah is not being given much look into.
John Paintsil’s problems at Fulham are well noted and the Craven Cottage outfit is not thought to be keen on extending the contract of the veteran defender following his inconsistent showing this season.
Again, Stars coach Goran Stevanovic has more than enough replacements for the position with many wondering why Samuel Inkoom is regularly seen on the bench.
The issue of finding a worthy replacement for number one goalkeeper Richard Kingston continues to dominate major discussions with no solution in sight. The Stars technical bench has not treated the issue with much urgency for years as.
It’s an issue which if not well dealt with can become the Achilles heel of the national team in the near future.
It’s a fact that Kingston has been wonderful in post for the Stars and continues to pull off fantastic saves anytime he is called upon but a succession plan must be put in place to ensure a smooth transition and it begins by allowing others the chance during friendly matches.
If Kingston is on good form, he is bound to give us good defensive cover in the posts, but what about if he loses his fitness at some point in time at Blackpool?
Conclusion
There is time for everything, as the saying goes. The current crop of senior players in the Stars camp have paid their due and it is only fair that the young players in the team assume greater roles in order to aid a smooth transition.
When the former Partisan Belgrade manager was introduced to the football family in February, 2011, some journalist openly expressed misgivings about his appointment giving his history at his former post where he resigned under intense pressure from the home fans.
The statistics bare it all: two wins and a draw in three matches surely represents a dream start for any coach particularly considering the circumstances under which the Black Stars secured their dramatic 1:1 drawn game with England.
Indeed the Serbian has barely put a foot wrong in his early days in the Ghanaian hot seat but it will be wrong to draw any hasty conclusions because after all, in his own words the ultimate aim is to win the nation’s first major trophy since 1982.
But before that dream can be realised, there is a need to address some pressing issues because it appears some deep cracks have developed in the foundation of the team.
There is therefore a pressing need to revamp the Black Star team which has seen some players play together for the past ten years.
That is to say that some players in the current team are well past their prime and will not be around forever, meaning urgent steps need to be taken to immediately introduce new blood into the “starting lineup” of the team, especially during friendly matches.
But the big question “Plavi” as Stevanovic is nicknamed, has to answer is: do we wait for the “cracks to develop into Valleys” before finding solutions?
HISTORY OF TRANSITIONS
The country has witnessed many such smooth transitions over the years due to the abundance of talents and also the existence of good soccer structures which enables players to move through the development cycle.
The first of such transitions occurred in 1965 under legendary coach C.K Gyamfi who took the then unpopular decision of dropping all but four of the 1963 African Nations Cup winning squad ahead of their title defense in Tunisia.
Gyamfi and his team virtually left the country for Tunisia under the cover of darkness, after much public outcry over his decision to select “school boys” for such an important tournament.
But guess what, the then-little known Osei Kofi and company emerged victorious and secured Ghana’s second African Nations Cup trophy to the surprise of all. It is instructive to know that Kofi and co graduated from the Academicals to the New Horizon before national duty came.
Those structures were created by the late Ohene Djan, the nation’s first director of sports.
You might call C.K. Gyamfi and his assistant Ben Koufie magicians, but the duo knew exactly what they were doing, having observed that most of the 1963 players were ageing.
The national team has seen at least three smooth transitions ever since: the Golden boy Abdul Razak and the Mohammed Polo generation which covers the 70’ and 80’s, Abedi Pele and Tony Yeboah 90’s generation and the present generation of Stephen Appiah and Michael Essien.
The most difficult transition came in 80’s as football administrators were not seen to be putting in place proper structures as witnessed under the nation’s first sports director Ohene Djan. Some will also argue that the exodus of many locally based players to Nigeria and elsewhere had an effect on that generation.
Of all the generations, Stephen Appiah will easily be remembered for his inspirational role as he easily stands out as key to the success story of the current generation.
After a rather difficult period under the Abedi Pele/Tony Yeboah generation where the team lacked team spirit, Appiah was able to bring both the old and new players together under his captaincy.
Having won the Fifa Under 17 trophy in 1995 with the Black Starlets, Appiah seems to have done his homework very well, having observed the split in the national team as a young player, so that he knew exactly what to do when he assumed the reins in 2004.
In the words of one renowned former national team coach, “Stephen Appiah is a gift to the nation and everybody should hail him.”
The good thing though is that the coming generation of players who are likely to be captained by Andre Dede Ayew, the son of soccer legend Abedi Ayew Pele, have had the experience of playing under Appiah and are expected to take a lot of inspiration from him.
That unique experience was made largely possible by the immediate past coach of the Stars, Milovan Rejavac who took the bold step of selecting six players from the victorious 2009 Black Satellites Fifa world Cup winning team to the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola.
Post World Cup Era
In the post world cup era, many national teams have started the re-building process with much emphasis on introducing young players in their set ups. The ultimate aim is to prepare teams towards the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
I have keenly followed the exploits of Brazil and Argentina in particular who are under new coaches after getting rid of Dunga and Diego Maradona respectively after what was a disastrous world cup, by their own standards.
In an article titled “Brazil show Argentina way forward,” the BBC’s South American football correspondent Tim Vickery showed the different approach the two South American Giants are using in their quest to develop a system of play that will be suitable for their different types of play.
And more importantly how Argentina can learn a lesson or two from their rivals with regards playing a regular striker.
But of great importance is the balanced manner in which the national team coaches are simultaneously utilising their experienced and young prospects in their quest to build a winsome team.
For instance in their game with Scotland, Brazil coach Mano Menezes used Jadson and Barcelona ace Daniel Alves down the right and Andre Santos and the talented Neymar down the left flank.
Manezes also gave 21 year old striker Leandro Damiao, his debut against the Scots.
Again Argentina Coach Sergio Batista is steeply involved in gathering his team up from the ashes following their disappointing run in South Africa 2010. Batista is more concerned with finding the right balance for the attacking riches at his disposal particularly Lionel Messi.
Ever Banega has assumed a greater role in the set up as well as Ezequiel Lavezzi and Angel Di Maria.
Mention can also be made of the English who played without five regular players against the Black Star as Fabio Capello gave the home fans a glimpse of the future national team.
The Plain Truth
In the present case of Ghana, it is becoming increasingly clear that some senior players in the set up will not be able to withstand the test of time despite their unquestionable loyalty to the national cause.
Players including Captain John Mensah, John Paintsil and Richard Kingston are fast fading out and a close observation of their performance in the English Premier League will easily reveal that.
This is not to say that the above-named players are not giving off their best effort to the national team. On the contrary these players are some of the most patriotic sons of the land to date and it will be wrong to write them off immediately but their long term stay with the Stars is quite doubtful.
Mensah in particular has struggled with injuries for a greater part of the last two seasons. He is still regarded as one of the most powerful defenders in the air and barely disappoints on his day but he has been given a torrid time by some top strikers lately including Luis Suarez and Carlos Tevez.
His lack of pace is quite evident and you only wonder why his name sake Jonathan Mensah is not being given much look into.
John Paintsil’s problems at Fulham are well noted and the Craven Cottage outfit is not thought to be keen on extending the contract of the veteran defender following his inconsistent showing this season.
Again, Stars coach Goran Stevanovic has more than enough replacements for the position with many wondering why Samuel Inkoom is regularly seen on the bench.
The issue of finding a worthy replacement for number one goalkeeper Richard Kingston continues to dominate major discussions with no solution in sight. The Stars technical bench has not treated the issue with much urgency for years as.
It’s an issue which if not well dealt with can become the Achilles heel of the national team in the near future.
It’s a fact that Kingston has been wonderful in post for the Stars and continues to pull off fantastic saves anytime he is called upon but a succession plan must be put in place to ensure a smooth transition and it begins by allowing others the chance during friendly matches.
If Kingston is on good form, he is bound to give us good defensive cover in the posts, but what about if he loses his fitness at some point in time at Blackpool?
Conclusion
There is time for everything, as the saying goes. The current crop of senior players in the Stars camp have paid their due and it is only fair that the young players in the team assume greater roles in order to aid a smooth transition.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Suspended GOC Executive Frank Appiah Caught Defrauding Continental Body
In what seems as the mother of all ironies, an executive member of the suspended and outgoing Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) has been caught pants down trying to defraud a continental sporting body.
Mr. Frank, Appiah, tried to deceive the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) about the legitimacy of Ghana Athletics Association (GAA), while assuming powers that can legally be exercised only by GAA.
This situation would be comical were it not for the serious predicament Ghana faces over the suspension of GOC and the seriousness of the charges.
What explanation can there be when a man who has helped hold Ghana sports hostage over autonomy of governance is caught lying and assuming powers he and the defunct GOC never had? The short answer is desperation and a reflection of true motive; desire to cling to power doing whatever it takes.
According to the General Secretary of the Confederation of African Athletics, Lamine Faty, his outfit received a communication from the Vice President of the suspended GOC, Frank Appiah on 24th March, 2011.
In the letter, Mr. Appiah deceptively informs CAA that the Ghana Athletics Association (GAA) is an illegitimate organization not recognised by his outfit. He then goes on to nominate a former chairman of the GAA, Mr. Sandy Osei-Agyeman, for a position on the CAA executive committee.
However, in a firm and direct manner, Mr. Appiah the architect of this coup d'état, has been giving a rude awakening by the CAA.
CAA insists that the Ghana Athletics Association is in good standing and Mr. Appiah and his outfit have no authority to decide on the legitimacy of GAA. They clarify to Mr. Appiah that the power to certify GAA lies with the global governing body for athletics; the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).
The General Secretary of the CAA Lamine Faty wrote: “I would like to inform you that CAA had never been informed about this situation, let alone received any notification from its regulating body IAAF asking CAA to suspend connections with this federation”
In addition to the latter rebuke, CAA informed Mr. Appiah that the due date for nominations for election onto CAA’s executive committee elapsed on 31st January, 2011.
Of greater importance, Mr. Faty went on to inform Mr. Appiah that the power to nominate candidates for CAA executive board positions rests fully with GAA and any such nominations must be initiated by the national association.
In essence, GOC, even if it was not suspended, does not have the power to nominate anybody for a position on the African Athletics governing body; the only group that can do so is the Professor Francis Dodoo-led GAA, which is the national athletics governing body.
For its part, IAAF, the international federation of athletics, has subsequently written to GAA to say CAA did the right thing in rebuffing Mr. Appiah and GOC, and to reaffirm their support for the Dodoo-led GAA.
In his March 29th, 2011 correspondence to Professor Francis Dodoo, Mr. Pierre Weiss the Secretary-General of IAAF writes: “your NOC is currently suspended and IOC does not recognise anyone there”.
This latest blunder represents a cold calculated attempt to defraud an international sporting body for personal gain. At a time when logic and caution is in need given the suspension of GOC, Mr. Appiah and Mr. Baba have embarked on an all-out war using any means necessary to cling on to power.
Today, Ghana’s self-proclaimed pseudo champions of democratic dispensation and autonomy of national sporting associations are thumbing their noses at IOC and other international bodies’ over governance issues; this is unprecedented.
After being disowned by IOC and declared non-existent by international federations, the ghost of GOC wants to function unabated. It now seeks to illegally surpass the powers of compliant (international standards) and well-respected national associations.
A couple of weeks ago, it was brought to light that GOC (which is today, just Mr. Appiah and Mr. Baba) have filed a writ of summons against Parliament, the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Attorney General’s Office. In their view, the legitimate and much needed amendment to the offending part of the current sports law amounts to an illegal action.
On what grounds is a defunct organization not recognised by the IOC, by international federations (global and continental), by national federations or by the government of Ghana file such a complaint? Only in Ghana!!!
Sorry to say that the latest blunder by Frank Appiah and co. is a continuation of the trend of arrogance and disdain for national and international processes meant to harmonize sports administration in Ghana.
THE OTHER CO-CONSPIRATOR: SANDY OSEI AGYEMAN
It’s noteworthy that the man who Mr. Appiah tried to nominate for the continental athletics position, Sandy Osei Agyeman, is already a member of the same body, the Council of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA), having been elected three years ago. Mind you, Mr. Osei-Agyemang got onto CAA by virtue of his appointment as chairman of GAA.
Mr. Osei-Agyeman is seeking re-election to his post but interestingly he chose to not communicate his intentions to GAA, the only institution with the power to nominate him.
Instead, it seems he chose to conspire with Mr. Appiah to not only circumvent GAA, but also in the process try to designate GAA as illegitimate so as to justify circumventing them. Keep in mind that as the immediate past boss of GAA and a member of CAA, Mr. Osei-Agyemang is fully aware of the procedural issues concerning nominations.
Indeed, a source close to Mr. Sandy Osei Agyeman, revealed to this reporter that there was a discussion between Mr. Osei-Agyeman and the GOC Vice President Frank Appiah on the issue before the nomination was sent to CAA.
The source further revealed that Mr. Osei-Agyeman would still actively seek to contest for a slot on the Council despite the embarrassing revelations.
With the nominations deadline passed, however, it is not clear how this will be affected, given that Frank Appiah’s plot failed to trick the continental body.
Calls to Frank Appiah for his side of the story were not returned as his phone was off and it is claimed that he has travelled outside the country. His request to CAA was sent on March 24th 2011.
Is B.T. BABA getting desperate?
It makes absolutely no sense that a group that benefited from 3 decades of appointments onto national federations (until 2009) is trying to frantically present itself as a champion of democracy.
Why did they not work to ensure that associations were democratically elected during the three “legitimate” terms of Mr. Baba’s reign as GOC president?
Ironically, now that associations have been democratically elected, they are investing so much energy into trying to discredit those associations, and to ensure that the necessary legislation that will get Ghana back into the Olympic family does not come into being.
They are investing so much time in shady and clearly illegal misrepresentations. In the Delhi Commonwealth Games last October, the old GOC accredited Mr. Frank Appiah as Secretary-General of the GOC, a position that is actually held by Mr. Albert Tettey, who has probably parted ways with Baba and Appiah because he is reluctant to let his esteemed reputation be soiled by participating in the ongoing shenanigans of his former GOC colleagues.
Then, a few weeks ago in his letter to Parliament, Mr. B.T. Baba assumed that Parliamentarians may not have seen the IOC Road Map and so he tried to con the distinguished members of that august house into believing that the IOC Road Map had indicated that his GOC should oversee the elections of the various national associations; the truth is that the Road Map clearly left that oversight in the hands of the respective international federations.
Certainly, we understand that Baba and Appiah prefer to go to GOC Congress with the old associations because that is the only way they stand the chance of getting re-elected; despite becoming GOC boss after the 1996 Olympics he still does not think he has had a long enough reign. He must understand that all of us have to live with the results, once the international federations ratify our associations.
The reason he does not want the new law coming into existence is that it acknowledges the authority of the international federations and the Ghanaian sports associations they have already ratified. Baba would like there to be new association elections once there is a new law, which is ironic for a man who refused to move Ghana to an elective dispensation when he was GOC boss.
That is his problem with the revision of the law. Unfortunately, any new law that does not accept the legitimacy of the new associations will again run Ghana afoul of the IOC simply because the international federations have already ratified our existing associations, and any attempt to change them will constitute, yes, that word again, “interference”. B.T. Baba and his cronies need to understand that the game is over.
Instead of trying to hold Ghana sports hostage to effect what cannot be legitimately effected, B.T. Baba and Appiah, too, have to live with that!
I believe it is about time someone reigned in the activities of Mr. Frank Appiah and Mr. B.T. Baba since it is increasingly becoming clear that they are desperate to cling onto power by any means necessary be it legal or illegal.
If this is not done they stand to run Ghana into a more permanent suspension from the IOC and even the other international federations.
http://www.aroundtherings.com/articles/view.aspx?id=36748
http://news.peacefmonline.com/features/201104/150487.php
http://www.ghanamma.com/2011/04/04/suspended-goc-executive-frank-appiah-caught-defrauding-continental-body/
http://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2011/04/04/suspended-ghana-olympic-committee-executive-frank-appiah-caught-lying/
Mr. Frank, Appiah, tried to deceive the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) about the legitimacy of Ghana Athletics Association (GAA), while assuming powers that can legally be exercised only by GAA.
This situation would be comical were it not for the serious predicament Ghana faces over the suspension of GOC and the seriousness of the charges.
What explanation can there be when a man who has helped hold Ghana sports hostage over autonomy of governance is caught lying and assuming powers he and the defunct GOC never had? The short answer is desperation and a reflection of true motive; desire to cling to power doing whatever it takes.
According to the General Secretary of the Confederation of African Athletics, Lamine Faty, his outfit received a communication from the Vice President of the suspended GOC, Frank Appiah on 24th March, 2011.
In the letter, Mr. Appiah deceptively informs CAA that the Ghana Athletics Association (GAA) is an illegitimate organization not recognised by his outfit. He then goes on to nominate a former chairman of the GAA, Mr. Sandy Osei-Agyeman, for a position on the CAA executive committee.
However, in a firm and direct manner, Mr. Appiah the architect of this coup d'état, has been giving a rude awakening by the CAA.
CAA insists that the Ghana Athletics Association is in good standing and Mr. Appiah and his outfit have no authority to decide on the legitimacy of GAA. They clarify to Mr. Appiah that the power to certify GAA lies with the global governing body for athletics; the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).
The General Secretary of the CAA Lamine Faty wrote: “I would like to inform you that CAA had never been informed about this situation, let alone received any notification from its regulating body IAAF asking CAA to suspend connections with this federation”
In addition to the latter rebuke, CAA informed Mr. Appiah that the due date for nominations for election onto CAA’s executive committee elapsed on 31st January, 2011.
Of greater importance, Mr. Faty went on to inform Mr. Appiah that the power to nominate candidates for CAA executive board positions rests fully with GAA and any such nominations must be initiated by the national association.
In essence, GOC, even if it was not suspended, does not have the power to nominate anybody for a position on the African Athletics governing body; the only group that can do so is the Professor Francis Dodoo-led GAA, which is the national athletics governing body.
For its part, IAAF, the international federation of athletics, has subsequently written to GAA to say CAA did the right thing in rebuffing Mr. Appiah and GOC, and to reaffirm their support for the Dodoo-led GAA.
In his March 29th, 2011 correspondence to Professor Francis Dodoo, Mr. Pierre Weiss the Secretary-General of IAAF writes: “your NOC is currently suspended and IOC does not recognise anyone there”.
This latest blunder represents a cold calculated attempt to defraud an international sporting body for personal gain. At a time when logic and caution is in need given the suspension of GOC, Mr. Appiah and Mr. Baba have embarked on an all-out war using any means necessary to cling on to power.
Today, Ghana’s self-proclaimed pseudo champions of democratic dispensation and autonomy of national sporting associations are thumbing their noses at IOC and other international bodies’ over governance issues; this is unprecedented.
After being disowned by IOC and declared non-existent by international federations, the ghost of GOC wants to function unabated. It now seeks to illegally surpass the powers of compliant (international standards) and well-respected national associations.
A couple of weeks ago, it was brought to light that GOC (which is today, just Mr. Appiah and Mr. Baba) have filed a writ of summons against Parliament, the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Attorney General’s Office. In their view, the legitimate and much needed amendment to the offending part of the current sports law amounts to an illegal action.
On what grounds is a defunct organization not recognised by the IOC, by international federations (global and continental), by national federations or by the government of Ghana file such a complaint? Only in Ghana!!!
Sorry to say that the latest blunder by Frank Appiah and co. is a continuation of the trend of arrogance and disdain for national and international processes meant to harmonize sports administration in Ghana.
THE OTHER CO-CONSPIRATOR: SANDY OSEI AGYEMAN
It’s noteworthy that the man who Mr. Appiah tried to nominate for the continental athletics position, Sandy Osei Agyeman, is already a member of the same body, the Council of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA), having been elected three years ago. Mind you, Mr. Osei-Agyemang got onto CAA by virtue of his appointment as chairman of GAA.
Mr. Osei-Agyeman is seeking re-election to his post but interestingly he chose to not communicate his intentions to GAA, the only institution with the power to nominate him.
Instead, it seems he chose to conspire with Mr. Appiah to not only circumvent GAA, but also in the process try to designate GAA as illegitimate so as to justify circumventing them. Keep in mind that as the immediate past boss of GAA and a member of CAA, Mr. Osei-Agyemang is fully aware of the procedural issues concerning nominations.
Indeed, a source close to Mr. Sandy Osei Agyeman, revealed to this reporter that there was a discussion between Mr. Osei-Agyeman and the GOC Vice President Frank Appiah on the issue before the nomination was sent to CAA.
The source further revealed that Mr. Osei-Agyeman would still actively seek to contest for a slot on the Council despite the embarrassing revelations.
With the nominations deadline passed, however, it is not clear how this will be affected, given that Frank Appiah’s plot failed to trick the continental body.
Calls to Frank Appiah for his side of the story were not returned as his phone was off and it is claimed that he has travelled outside the country. His request to CAA was sent on March 24th 2011.
Is B.T. BABA getting desperate?
It makes absolutely no sense that a group that benefited from 3 decades of appointments onto national federations (until 2009) is trying to frantically present itself as a champion of democracy.
Why did they not work to ensure that associations were democratically elected during the three “legitimate” terms of Mr. Baba’s reign as GOC president?
Ironically, now that associations have been democratically elected, they are investing so much energy into trying to discredit those associations, and to ensure that the necessary legislation that will get Ghana back into the Olympic family does not come into being.
They are investing so much time in shady and clearly illegal misrepresentations. In the Delhi Commonwealth Games last October, the old GOC accredited Mr. Frank Appiah as Secretary-General of the GOC, a position that is actually held by Mr. Albert Tettey, who has probably parted ways with Baba and Appiah because he is reluctant to let his esteemed reputation be soiled by participating in the ongoing shenanigans of his former GOC colleagues.
Then, a few weeks ago in his letter to Parliament, Mr. B.T. Baba assumed that Parliamentarians may not have seen the IOC Road Map and so he tried to con the distinguished members of that august house into believing that the IOC Road Map had indicated that his GOC should oversee the elections of the various national associations; the truth is that the Road Map clearly left that oversight in the hands of the respective international federations.
Certainly, we understand that Baba and Appiah prefer to go to GOC Congress with the old associations because that is the only way they stand the chance of getting re-elected; despite becoming GOC boss after the 1996 Olympics he still does not think he has had a long enough reign. He must understand that all of us have to live with the results, once the international federations ratify our associations.
The reason he does not want the new law coming into existence is that it acknowledges the authority of the international federations and the Ghanaian sports associations they have already ratified. Baba would like there to be new association elections once there is a new law, which is ironic for a man who refused to move Ghana to an elective dispensation when he was GOC boss.
That is his problem with the revision of the law. Unfortunately, any new law that does not accept the legitimacy of the new associations will again run Ghana afoul of the IOC simply because the international federations have already ratified our existing associations, and any attempt to change them will constitute, yes, that word again, “interference”. B.T. Baba and his cronies need to understand that the game is over.
Instead of trying to hold Ghana sports hostage to effect what cannot be legitimately effected, B.T. Baba and Appiah, too, have to live with that!
I believe it is about time someone reigned in the activities of Mr. Frank Appiah and Mr. B.T. Baba since it is increasingly becoming clear that they are desperate to cling onto power by any means necessary be it legal or illegal.
If this is not done they stand to run Ghana into a more permanent suspension from the IOC and even the other international federations.
http://www.aroundtherings.com/articles/view.aspx?id=36748
http://news.peacefmonline.com/features/201104/150487.php
http://www.ghanamma.com/2011/04/04/suspended-goc-executive-frank-appiah-caught-defrauding-continental-body/
http://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2011/04/04/suspended-ghana-olympic-committee-executive-frank-appiah-caught-lying/
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Ghana FA Presidential Hopeful Surprised At Executive Committee Decision
An FA Presidential hopeful Neil Armstrong Mortagbe has expressed surprise at the FA Executive Committee’s decision to hold the Presidential elections before that of the Regional Football Association.
Mr. Armstrong says he has referred the matter to his legal team since it’s difficult to understand the rationale behind the decision.
The 10 Regional Football Associations have a total of 30 votes at congress and it’s was expected that the RFA elections will proceed that of the presidential race but some legal experts say the FA constitution does not clearly define the election timetable.
The Executive Committee, the body which has the power to determine the election timetable, at its meeting two weeks ago approved plans to stage the Presidential race on 28th April, 2011 before the RFA’s will take their turns in May and June.
In an interview with this reporter Neil Armstrong Mortagbe said he respects the decision of the Executive Committee but feels they should take a second look at the situation.
“I was surprised knowing the sequence that we had seen in the first instance,” he said adding that “the Executive Committee and some reps of the FA have been at pains to explain why that sequence was arranged.”
“For me I’m a football person through and through, the executive committee has a mandate to determine the date for the elections and the modalities for the elections. They have so determined.”
The 42 year old club administrator also explained that he is taking the new development seriously and has tasked his team to analyse the situation.
“I have referred the matter to my legal team of my campaign to see if there is any way we can discuss with the FA and understand the rationale behind why it so and also make a case why it should be anything else.
“But even as things stand now, I believe that my presentation, my programme, my passion, the spirit behind this declaration and campaign can still win me through the Electoral College.”
The Fifa Marketing Consultant and Instructor also used the occasion to announce his decision to resign from his post as Treasurer for the Ghana League Clubs Association in other to be eligible to contest the top FA post since GHALCA rules debars executive members from running for the job.
The 42 year olds campaign Manifesto which primarily focuses on the importance of developing grassroots football is under the theme “Reaping where we have sown: the cry of the Ghanaian Football Investor: A call to duty.
Mr. Mortagbe says it will be his vision to transform the brand of Ghana Football into one of the most attractive and sought after Football Brands in the World and ensure that all investors and stakeholders of the game receive a due return on their investment.
The former Chairman of the National Chapters Committee of Accra Hearts of Oak is also confident of winning the race saying he would not have stood for the post if he knew he will not win.
But observers believe that the task to depose the incumbent President Kwesi Nyantakyi will be daunting considering the achievements and the status Mr. Nyantakyi has within the football fraternity and more importantly the Electoral College.
However, Neil Armstrong is unperturbed.
“The FA sees me as a threat. Within days of my announcing my candidacy, three strong cases about my eligibility were brought up, and then the Executive Committee announced the date for congress.”
“I believe my team and I have a message that is compelling enough to win this election even with the current composition and even with the current modalities that have been announced by the Executive Committee.
Neil Armstrong, who previously served in various capacities with Accra Hearts of Oak within a fifteen year period, is currently the club President of Accra based division two side Apex United.
Neil Armstrong has received some rave reviews after throwing his hut in the ring for the FA post last week and he is hoping the electoral system will be fair.
“Of course anybody going into an election will want a fair system and that iw why I keep on talking about Fifa warning against discrimination.
“Is one of things that the guys are looking into and if for instance they look at the discrimination clause and say that this decision by the Exco discrimination against anybody, it will be raised first of all at the GFA because we must go through the system we are football people and we are working in football.
“There is a grievance procedure we have to go through.
“But if the legal committee feels there is nothing wrong, then we will get the show on the road.”
http://www.goal.com/en/news/1658/ghana/2011/03/22/2406670/ghana-fa-presidential-hopeful-surprised-at-executive
http://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2011/03/22/gfa-presidential-hopeful-surprised-at-executive-committee-decision-on-elections/
Mr. Armstrong says he has referred the matter to his legal team since it’s difficult to understand the rationale behind the decision.
The 10 Regional Football Associations have a total of 30 votes at congress and it’s was expected that the RFA elections will proceed that of the presidential race but some legal experts say the FA constitution does not clearly define the election timetable.
The Executive Committee, the body which has the power to determine the election timetable, at its meeting two weeks ago approved plans to stage the Presidential race on 28th April, 2011 before the RFA’s will take their turns in May and June.
In an interview with this reporter Neil Armstrong Mortagbe said he respects the decision of the Executive Committee but feels they should take a second look at the situation.
“I was surprised knowing the sequence that we had seen in the first instance,” he said adding that “the Executive Committee and some reps of the FA have been at pains to explain why that sequence was arranged.”
“For me I’m a football person through and through, the executive committee has a mandate to determine the date for the elections and the modalities for the elections. They have so determined.”
The 42 year old club administrator also explained that he is taking the new development seriously and has tasked his team to analyse the situation.
“I have referred the matter to my legal team of my campaign to see if there is any way we can discuss with the FA and understand the rationale behind why it so and also make a case why it should be anything else.
“But even as things stand now, I believe that my presentation, my programme, my passion, the spirit behind this declaration and campaign can still win me through the Electoral College.”
The Fifa Marketing Consultant and Instructor also used the occasion to announce his decision to resign from his post as Treasurer for the Ghana League Clubs Association in other to be eligible to contest the top FA post since GHALCA rules debars executive members from running for the job.
The 42 year olds campaign Manifesto which primarily focuses on the importance of developing grassroots football is under the theme “Reaping where we have sown: the cry of the Ghanaian Football Investor: A call to duty.
Mr. Mortagbe says it will be his vision to transform the brand of Ghana Football into one of the most attractive and sought after Football Brands in the World and ensure that all investors and stakeholders of the game receive a due return on their investment.
The former Chairman of the National Chapters Committee of Accra Hearts of Oak is also confident of winning the race saying he would not have stood for the post if he knew he will not win.
But observers believe that the task to depose the incumbent President Kwesi Nyantakyi will be daunting considering the achievements and the status Mr. Nyantakyi has within the football fraternity and more importantly the Electoral College.
However, Neil Armstrong is unperturbed.
“The FA sees me as a threat. Within days of my announcing my candidacy, three strong cases about my eligibility were brought up, and then the Executive Committee announced the date for congress.”
“I believe my team and I have a message that is compelling enough to win this election even with the current composition and even with the current modalities that have been announced by the Executive Committee.
Neil Armstrong, who previously served in various capacities with Accra Hearts of Oak within a fifteen year period, is currently the club President of Accra based division two side Apex United.
Neil Armstrong has received some rave reviews after throwing his hut in the ring for the FA post last week and he is hoping the electoral system will be fair.
“Of course anybody going into an election will want a fair system and that iw why I keep on talking about Fifa warning against discrimination.
“Is one of things that the guys are looking into and if for instance they look at the discrimination clause and say that this decision by the Exco discrimination against anybody, it will be raised first of all at the GFA because we must go through the system we are football people and we are working in football.
“There is a grievance procedure we have to go through.
“But if the legal committee feels there is nothing wrong, then we will get the show on the road.”
http://www.goal.com/en/news/1658/ghana/2011/03/22/2406670/ghana-fa-presidential-hopeful-surprised-at-executive
http://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2011/03/22/gfa-presidential-hopeful-surprised-at-executive-committee-decision-on-elections/
Hearts need to stage a revival
An obviously shocked Accra Hearts of Oak Coach Nebojsa Vucicevic had little words of consolation for the phobian faithful minutes after his side succumbed to a 2:0 loss to arch-rivals Kumasi Asante Kotoko.
When asked what went wrong with his team, the Serbian replied “I don’t know what happened because we prepared very well for the game. Maybe too much crowd.”
The Serbian who only took charge of the phobians after the African Nations Championship was clearly not sure about what exactly hit his team after gifting time and space consistently to Kotoko for long periods in the game.
And indeed for a club that is celebrating its centenary, the manner of the defeat was very hard to take and Hearts left the Accra Spots Stadium with an uncertain future with many questions lingering about the once dreaded African Champions.
But from a keen observer’s point of view, the reasons for the defeat was quite clear and it can be explained by events on the match day as well as the recruitment of players especially the second round.
Many of us were caught up in the euphoria surrounding what is obviously the biggest game in club football in the country and for those who watched the game at the stadium, the battle begun during the warm up period.
On the back of a famous 1:0 victory over the porcupine warriors earlier in the season, Hearts came onto the pitch in a very confident mood.
In the searing heat at the stadium, the Hearts starting eleven and the substitutes undertook vigorous physical activities including jogging, breaking into spontaneous runs at high speed, three-aside games, rounding it up by waving white handkerchiefs to wild cheers.
The phobians spent forty minutes on the warm up while Kotoko, who wore black jerseys initially, spent twenty minutes.
The effect showed clearly when the game began as it looked like the Hearts players had huge bags of cement strapped onto their backs in the early part of the game.
Kotoko were the livelier of the teams in the opening 20 minutes and first to the second ball against a side who still seemed to be suffering from the effect of their physical activity.
Before Hearts could awake from their slumber, Kotoko had already scored twice through the hard working Ahmed Toure and captain Daniel Nii Adjie on five minutes and 21 minutes respectively.
Ahmed Toure latched onto Alex Asamoah’s through ball before dispatching it home with the left foot after a long kick by goalkeeper Isaac Amoako.
Toure and Alex Asamoah combined to set up Nii Adjie for the more spectacular goal.
But that is not to take credit away from the hard working Kotoko players on the day.
The contest was effectively over after 30 minutes as the visitors reduced the pace of the game to a stroll in the park and forced their hosts to adapt to the custom of their game.
In their ensuing period, the Kotoko players’ superior technique enabled them to possess the ball and slice the Hearts defense open at will.
Hearts could only watch on in awe, praying the worse does not happen to them after crushing the fabulous boys 4:0 in a similar encounter in 1998 at the same venue.
DIFFERENT ATTACKING STYLES
The porcupine warriors easily picked Hearts right full back Philip Boampong as the weakest link in the home team’s defense and rightly so.
Boampong who has been used mostly as a central defender lacks the needed pace to play on the wing and his tackling still lacks the edge to play at the top level.
The National under-20 star is still thought of as a rough diamond almost two years after Ghana picked up gold at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Egypt.
Kotoko captain Daniel Nii Adjie took delight in disturbing the peace of the young man by running deep into midfield while striker Ahmed Toure took up the left wing position.
On an afternoon that the phobians badly needed some inspiration to beat their bitter rivals, the likes of Obed Ansah and Uriah Asante, failed to show up and Mr. Vucicevic had only one option - to substitute them. I must admit though that, Opoku Afriyie brought some life into the Hearts team with some good passing and running down the right flank.
Criticisms of Kotoko’s play
For all their composed and confident play though, many Kotoko fans were disappointed that their team did not step on the gas pedal in the second half.
After a very composed display in the first half, it seemed to all that the porcupine warriors had been read the riot act by their coach after half time but the players showed a lack of interest to rub salt into their badly injured opponents.
Lessons from Kotoko
When faced with the prospects of relegation in the first round of the league, after seven defeats on the trot, the Executive Chairman of Kotoko Dr. K.K. Sarpong took the wisest decision to open the chequebook and sign quality players.
The list included the Gomoa Fetteh Feyenoord quartet of Awal Mohammed, Yaw Frimpong, Michael Akuffo and Nafiu Iddrisu as well as the Wa All Stars strike duo of Fatau Mohammed and Nathaniel Asamoah.
And I must emphasise that it was the quality of players the club signed that enabled them make the turnaround although some might argue that Serbian coach Bogdan Korack also had a hand in the success story with his conditioning technique.
It is remarkable that the new players brought an instant change to the team ever since the second round began.
Kotoko have won five matches while drawing one and losing one in seven matches in the second round.
Kotoko’s new found hero Awal Mohammed, is a tower of strength and assurance in the defense, Yaw Frimpong’s pace down the right wing continues to cause opponents more problems while Michael Akuffo has assumed a prominent role in central midfield and can be deadly from dead ball situations.
The new darling boy Nathaniel Asamoah has scored three goals so far.
Hearts might be celebrating their centenary, but they need to wake up to the realities of the 21st century and try to take some lessons from the Kotoko management.
Way forward
Hearts effectively have to undergo rebuilding now not only because of the loss to Kotoko, but the reality is that the future looks bleak for a club that is celebrating its centenary.
The current crop of players at the club cannot withstand the pressures of the local league in the coming years whereas other clubs are now well positioned to continue with their successes.
Again, let me point out that the solution will not be in floating shares on the Ghana Stock Exchange to raise funds.
In my humble opinion, Hearts would be better off with sound management practices in other to attract potential sponsors.
In economic terms, Hearts must now admit they are in recession.
To paraphrase a quote most economists use “within every recession there is always a seed for recovery.”
The time might not be too late for Hearts to stage a revival.
When asked what went wrong with his team, the Serbian replied “I don’t know what happened because we prepared very well for the game. Maybe too much crowd.”
The Serbian who only took charge of the phobians after the African Nations Championship was clearly not sure about what exactly hit his team after gifting time and space consistently to Kotoko for long periods in the game.
And indeed for a club that is celebrating its centenary, the manner of the defeat was very hard to take and Hearts left the Accra Spots Stadium with an uncertain future with many questions lingering about the once dreaded African Champions.
But from a keen observer’s point of view, the reasons for the defeat was quite clear and it can be explained by events on the match day as well as the recruitment of players especially the second round.
Many of us were caught up in the euphoria surrounding what is obviously the biggest game in club football in the country and for those who watched the game at the stadium, the battle begun during the warm up period.
On the back of a famous 1:0 victory over the porcupine warriors earlier in the season, Hearts came onto the pitch in a very confident mood.
In the searing heat at the stadium, the Hearts starting eleven and the substitutes undertook vigorous physical activities including jogging, breaking into spontaneous runs at high speed, three-aside games, rounding it up by waving white handkerchiefs to wild cheers.
The phobians spent forty minutes on the warm up while Kotoko, who wore black jerseys initially, spent twenty minutes.
The effect showed clearly when the game began as it looked like the Hearts players had huge bags of cement strapped onto their backs in the early part of the game.
Kotoko were the livelier of the teams in the opening 20 minutes and first to the second ball against a side who still seemed to be suffering from the effect of their physical activity.
Before Hearts could awake from their slumber, Kotoko had already scored twice through the hard working Ahmed Toure and captain Daniel Nii Adjie on five minutes and 21 minutes respectively.
Ahmed Toure latched onto Alex Asamoah’s through ball before dispatching it home with the left foot after a long kick by goalkeeper Isaac Amoako.
Toure and Alex Asamoah combined to set up Nii Adjie for the more spectacular goal.
But that is not to take credit away from the hard working Kotoko players on the day.
The contest was effectively over after 30 minutes as the visitors reduced the pace of the game to a stroll in the park and forced their hosts to adapt to the custom of their game.
In their ensuing period, the Kotoko players’ superior technique enabled them to possess the ball and slice the Hearts defense open at will.
Hearts could only watch on in awe, praying the worse does not happen to them after crushing the fabulous boys 4:0 in a similar encounter in 1998 at the same venue.
DIFFERENT ATTACKING STYLES
The porcupine warriors easily picked Hearts right full back Philip Boampong as the weakest link in the home team’s defense and rightly so.
Boampong who has been used mostly as a central defender lacks the needed pace to play on the wing and his tackling still lacks the edge to play at the top level.
The National under-20 star is still thought of as a rough diamond almost two years after Ghana picked up gold at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Egypt.
Kotoko captain Daniel Nii Adjie took delight in disturbing the peace of the young man by running deep into midfield while striker Ahmed Toure took up the left wing position.
On an afternoon that the phobians badly needed some inspiration to beat their bitter rivals, the likes of Obed Ansah and Uriah Asante, failed to show up and Mr. Vucicevic had only one option - to substitute them. I must admit though that, Opoku Afriyie brought some life into the Hearts team with some good passing and running down the right flank.
Criticisms of Kotoko’s play
For all their composed and confident play though, many Kotoko fans were disappointed that their team did not step on the gas pedal in the second half.
After a very composed display in the first half, it seemed to all that the porcupine warriors had been read the riot act by their coach after half time but the players showed a lack of interest to rub salt into their badly injured opponents.
Lessons from Kotoko
When faced with the prospects of relegation in the first round of the league, after seven defeats on the trot, the Executive Chairman of Kotoko Dr. K.K. Sarpong took the wisest decision to open the chequebook and sign quality players.
The list included the Gomoa Fetteh Feyenoord quartet of Awal Mohammed, Yaw Frimpong, Michael Akuffo and Nafiu Iddrisu as well as the Wa All Stars strike duo of Fatau Mohammed and Nathaniel Asamoah.
And I must emphasise that it was the quality of players the club signed that enabled them make the turnaround although some might argue that Serbian coach Bogdan Korack also had a hand in the success story with his conditioning technique.
It is remarkable that the new players brought an instant change to the team ever since the second round began.
Kotoko have won five matches while drawing one and losing one in seven matches in the second round.
Kotoko’s new found hero Awal Mohammed, is a tower of strength and assurance in the defense, Yaw Frimpong’s pace down the right wing continues to cause opponents more problems while Michael Akuffo has assumed a prominent role in central midfield and can be deadly from dead ball situations.
The new darling boy Nathaniel Asamoah has scored three goals so far.
Hearts might be celebrating their centenary, but they need to wake up to the realities of the 21st century and try to take some lessons from the Kotoko management.
Way forward
Hearts effectively have to undergo rebuilding now not only because of the loss to Kotoko, but the reality is that the future looks bleak for a club that is celebrating its centenary.
The current crop of players at the club cannot withstand the pressures of the local league in the coming years whereas other clubs are now well positioned to continue with their successes.
Again, let me point out that the solution will not be in floating shares on the Ghana Stock Exchange to raise funds.
In my humble opinion, Hearts would be better off with sound management practices in other to attract potential sponsors.
In economic terms, Hearts must now admit they are in recession.
To paraphrase a quote most economists use “within every recession there is always a seed for recovery.”
The time might not be too late for Hearts to stage a revival.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Sports Journalism of our time
Not a day goes by without word of some fraudulent or dishonest conduct by people in positions of trust in the local football game, and more generally in Ghana sports as a whole.
From the numerous petitions to the GFA by some club administrators, it would appear that, the problem of corruption in the game goes much deeper than previously thought.
Indeed it is not uncommon to hear about situations where regional FA bosses literally choose which teams get promoted to play in the second and first divisions.
In that sense, the football league is played as a mere formality as everything is made possible for such teams to win matches whether by fair or foul means.
The recent petitions to the FA by the founder of Ketu Stars, Abdul Kadiri, and the owner of Suhum Maxbees Nana Budu, point to that fact.
To make matters worse, most of the regional FAs do not have their accounts audited at the end of year. For example, the Volta Regional FA’s accounts have not been audited for the past nine years.
LOCAL BLACK STARS PERFORMANCE LINKED TO CORRUPTION!
In the aftermath of the local Black Stars disastrous performance at the 2011 African Nations Championship, some attempts have been made to link the team’s performance to perceived corruption and injustice in the league.
Ghanaians had high expectations after the head coach of the team Hebert Addo selected the cream of players from the defending league champions Aduana Stars and the current league leaders Berekum Chelsea.
But many have been left wondering whether indeed we have been crowning worth champions following the national teams indifferent showing in Sudan.
I remember an interview I had with former GFA boss Ben Koufie before the current league campaign started last year. The experienced coach and administrator expressed grave worry about the future of the local game due to the worsening case of bribery of match officials.
On the same programme, a FIFA Refereeing instructor Joseph Wellington confirmed my worst fears that bribery of match officials has become rampart; he therefore urged the need to nip the act in the bud.
Well, months on you will want to ask whether any steps were taken to check the menace? It seems to be business as usual.
THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA
Where corruption or the perception of corruption exists, the role of the journalist is to help the general public make sense of the issue(s) through informed systematic inquiry. Unfortunately, the need to better understand issues relating to corruption (real or perceived) is often misconstrued as attempts to “pull him down”.
Given the real and alleged levels of corruption within football administration in Ghana, there is a need for those of us in sports journalism to do an introspective self-examination to see whether we are helping to address the problem, or simply adding fuel to the problem through our actions or inaction.
Under no circumstance should the media be seen as getting its hands dirty by actively meddling in the affairs of the Ghana Football Association, primarily as members of club sides. For example, journalists should not manufacture stories that have no factual basis just to antagonize or discredit legitimate processes.
Likewise, journalists should not muddy or “water down” stories for which there is reasonable cause for further journalistic investigation to gain a better understanding of the issues at stake. If journalists did any of these two things that would constitute a surrendering of the moral high ground.
Sadly though, this practice of surrendering the moral high ground, often to the highest bidder if we are to believe the rumours, is very common in certain quarters.
In other cases, journalists take up positions as the public relations officers of club sides in the country because of the unique positions they occupy in society.
To put it bluntly, how can the media fulfill its fourth estate obligation to the public at large if we confuse our need for close access to football administrators with being part of the “team”?
Once compromised, it is easy to understand why some journalists show a significant degree of discomfort with, and disinterest in, particular news stories that have a negative impact on their interest i.e., “team”.
I have watched in horror over the past few months as some media elements wage an unrelenting attack on other media personalities whom they tag as “anti-GFA”.
The Graphic Sports in particular has come under heavy criticism for its reportage on possible corruption at the GFA, the most recent story being the alleged $4,000 payments to Executive Committee members of the FA who did not travel to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Despite the Graphic Sports’ alleged hate campaign and conspiracies, the stories that the national paper has vigorously pursued have generally turned out to have some element of truth to them.
CHEERLEADING AND SCAPEGOATING
Matters also came to a head following FA President Kwesi Nyantakyi’s election to the CAF Executive Committee position in Sudan last month.
Some supporters of Mr. Nyantakyi’s administration used the occasion to cast aspersions on perceived opponents of the FA.
Sadly, it seems there are journalists who cannot separate the joy of seeing a fellow Ghanaian elected to CAF’s executive committee from outstanding questions about the administration of football in Ghana.
Are we to believe that the honor of being elected to a position of authority equates to vindication on any or all outstanding matters of relevance? Does it mean the new position absolves them of other lingering questions of national significance?
Having said that, it is instructive to note that in the final analysis; even some FA members do value the role the media plays in developing the game and therefore see criticism as a good way of checking excesses in their administration.
It will be erroneous to conclude that a media house or a media person is an enemy of the FA simply because he/she criticises or reviews questionable FA practices.
WAY FORWARD
I once overheard a journalist say that it was no longer necessary to talk about the “never ending story” of corruption at the Eastern Regional Football Association (RFA) because in his view, the football authorities would simply not take any action against the RFA Chairman, Mohammed Lawal.
But there has to be an alternate way forward.
A case in point is the International media’s exposé on how International Olympic Committee members traded their “votes for cash” in what became known as the Salt Lake Scandal over a decade ago.
For strangers in Jerusalem, Salt Lake City won the right to host the 2002 Winter Olympics by offering scholarships to the children of IOC members, land in Utah and other lavish gifts.
The IOC has been able to streamline its voting procedure to avoid another such scandal. It might not be full-proof but at least they have made an attempt to tackle what was a very serious issue.
I can only borrow a quote from the BBC’s James Pearce who wrote a piece on possible lessons FIFA could learn from its counterparts, the International Olympic Committee following the controversial award of the World Cup hosting rights to Russia and Qatar.
Mr. Pearce’s said “the only way FIFA will change is if there is strong and united international pressure.”
Conclusion
There is the need for a concerted effort to tackle the unsavory and compromising manner in which sports, especially football is covered in Ghana by the media.
To that effect, I believe the new leadership of the Sports Writers Association (SWAG) and the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) have the onus responsibility to create a platform for a dispassionate discussion on effective and forward looking coverage of sports in Ghana.
Perhaps, a stakeholders meeting of sport journalists could lead to the development of a framework for coverage of sports in Ghana.
Such a framework will help current and aspiring journalists cover sports in a manner that most benefits the nation and helps the different sporting disciplines move forward in highly productive yet accountable ways.
http://news.peacefmonline.com/features/201103/143977.php
From the numerous petitions to the GFA by some club administrators, it would appear that, the problem of corruption in the game goes much deeper than previously thought.
Indeed it is not uncommon to hear about situations where regional FA bosses literally choose which teams get promoted to play in the second and first divisions.
In that sense, the football league is played as a mere formality as everything is made possible for such teams to win matches whether by fair or foul means.
The recent petitions to the FA by the founder of Ketu Stars, Abdul Kadiri, and the owner of Suhum Maxbees Nana Budu, point to that fact.
To make matters worse, most of the regional FAs do not have their accounts audited at the end of year. For example, the Volta Regional FA’s accounts have not been audited for the past nine years.
LOCAL BLACK STARS PERFORMANCE LINKED TO CORRUPTION!
In the aftermath of the local Black Stars disastrous performance at the 2011 African Nations Championship, some attempts have been made to link the team’s performance to perceived corruption and injustice in the league.
Ghanaians had high expectations after the head coach of the team Hebert Addo selected the cream of players from the defending league champions Aduana Stars and the current league leaders Berekum Chelsea.
But many have been left wondering whether indeed we have been crowning worth champions following the national teams indifferent showing in Sudan.
I remember an interview I had with former GFA boss Ben Koufie before the current league campaign started last year. The experienced coach and administrator expressed grave worry about the future of the local game due to the worsening case of bribery of match officials.
On the same programme, a FIFA Refereeing instructor Joseph Wellington confirmed my worst fears that bribery of match officials has become rampart; he therefore urged the need to nip the act in the bud.
Well, months on you will want to ask whether any steps were taken to check the menace? It seems to be business as usual.
THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA
Where corruption or the perception of corruption exists, the role of the journalist is to help the general public make sense of the issue(s) through informed systematic inquiry. Unfortunately, the need to better understand issues relating to corruption (real or perceived) is often misconstrued as attempts to “pull him down”.
Given the real and alleged levels of corruption within football administration in Ghana, there is a need for those of us in sports journalism to do an introspective self-examination to see whether we are helping to address the problem, or simply adding fuel to the problem through our actions or inaction.
Under no circumstance should the media be seen as getting its hands dirty by actively meddling in the affairs of the Ghana Football Association, primarily as members of club sides. For example, journalists should not manufacture stories that have no factual basis just to antagonize or discredit legitimate processes.
Likewise, journalists should not muddy or “water down” stories for which there is reasonable cause for further journalistic investigation to gain a better understanding of the issues at stake. If journalists did any of these two things that would constitute a surrendering of the moral high ground.
Sadly though, this practice of surrendering the moral high ground, often to the highest bidder if we are to believe the rumours, is very common in certain quarters.
In other cases, journalists take up positions as the public relations officers of club sides in the country because of the unique positions they occupy in society.
To put it bluntly, how can the media fulfill its fourth estate obligation to the public at large if we confuse our need for close access to football administrators with being part of the “team”?
Once compromised, it is easy to understand why some journalists show a significant degree of discomfort with, and disinterest in, particular news stories that have a negative impact on their interest i.e., “team”.
I have watched in horror over the past few months as some media elements wage an unrelenting attack on other media personalities whom they tag as “anti-GFA”.
The Graphic Sports in particular has come under heavy criticism for its reportage on possible corruption at the GFA, the most recent story being the alleged $4,000 payments to Executive Committee members of the FA who did not travel to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Despite the Graphic Sports’ alleged hate campaign and conspiracies, the stories that the national paper has vigorously pursued have generally turned out to have some element of truth to them.
CHEERLEADING AND SCAPEGOATING
Matters also came to a head following FA President Kwesi Nyantakyi’s election to the CAF Executive Committee position in Sudan last month.
Some supporters of Mr. Nyantakyi’s administration used the occasion to cast aspersions on perceived opponents of the FA.
Sadly, it seems there are journalists who cannot separate the joy of seeing a fellow Ghanaian elected to CAF’s executive committee from outstanding questions about the administration of football in Ghana.
Are we to believe that the honor of being elected to a position of authority equates to vindication on any or all outstanding matters of relevance? Does it mean the new position absolves them of other lingering questions of national significance?
Having said that, it is instructive to note that in the final analysis; even some FA members do value the role the media plays in developing the game and therefore see criticism as a good way of checking excesses in their administration.
It will be erroneous to conclude that a media house or a media person is an enemy of the FA simply because he/she criticises or reviews questionable FA practices.
WAY FORWARD
I once overheard a journalist say that it was no longer necessary to talk about the “never ending story” of corruption at the Eastern Regional Football Association (RFA) because in his view, the football authorities would simply not take any action against the RFA Chairman, Mohammed Lawal.
But there has to be an alternate way forward.
A case in point is the International media’s exposé on how International Olympic Committee members traded their “votes for cash” in what became known as the Salt Lake Scandal over a decade ago.
For strangers in Jerusalem, Salt Lake City won the right to host the 2002 Winter Olympics by offering scholarships to the children of IOC members, land in Utah and other lavish gifts.
The IOC has been able to streamline its voting procedure to avoid another such scandal. It might not be full-proof but at least they have made an attempt to tackle what was a very serious issue.
I can only borrow a quote from the BBC’s James Pearce who wrote a piece on possible lessons FIFA could learn from its counterparts, the International Olympic Committee following the controversial award of the World Cup hosting rights to Russia and Qatar.
Mr. Pearce’s said “the only way FIFA will change is if there is strong and united international pressure.”
Conclusion
There is the need for a concerted effort to tackle the unsavory and compromising manner in which sports, especially football is covered in Ghana by the media.
To that effect, I believe the new leadership of the Sports Writers Association (SWAG) and the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) have the onus responsibility to create a platform for a dispassionate discussion on effective and forward looking coverage of sports in Ghana.
Perhaps, a stakeholders meeting of sport journalists could lead to the development of a framework for coverage of sports in Ghana.
Such a framework will help current and aspiring journalists cover sports in a manner that most benefits the nation and helps the different sporting disciplines move forward in highly productive yet accountable ways.
http://news.peacefmonline.com/features/201103/143977.php
African football needs radical change – fast!
Osasu Obayiuwana, the former BBC journalist and currently Associate Editor of the London-based NewAfrican magazine (www.africasia.com) and a football producer/programme maker with SuperSport, the pan-African sports TV channel, has written a frank piece on the current state of African football, syndicated in the Saturday 5th March editions of The Guardian, Complete Sports and the Daily Trust newspapers, which have the furthest reach in Nigeria, Africa's most populous country of 150 million people.
The piece is replicated below.
African football needs radical change – fast!
By Osasu Obayiuwana
My romance with football – as a journalist and broadcaster – began 24 years ago. It is truly amazing how swiftly the bird of time can fly.
Every dream and ambition I had as a “wet-eared” football journalist has been realised – I’ve covered World Cups and several international tournaments, great African and European club matches, had enlightening conversations with the game’s elite players and officials, as well as having a platform to put my views across to a global audience.
But the game brings me little joy in these troubled times, as the stench of ineptitude, inertia and nepotism, particularly in the African game, puts me – and many of us that deeply care about its future – in a state of despondence and militancy.
The guardians of our game – the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and its 53 member national associations across the continent (South Sudan will become CAF’s 54th member, after its formal commencement as a sovereign state in July) – are frighteningly unaware, or unconcerned, about the precarious state our game is in and an urgent need to chart a course that will halt our rapid decline.
While there’s no question that the 2010 World Cup finals, organised by South Africa, was a resounding success and a credit to the skills of the Local Organising Committee, led by CEO Danny Jordaan, Africa’s performance on the pitch was pathetic.
Five out of our six representatives – Algeria, Cameroon, Cote D’Ivoire, Nigeria and South Africa – fell at the first hurdle, with Ghana’s Black Stars bearing, creditably, the onerous burden of saving Africa from total shame.
With that in mind, I assumed CAF’s 33rd Ordinary General Assembly in Khartoum, Sudan – the birthplace of CAF in 1957 – would provide the perfect forum for the continent’s football mandarins to take an unvarnished, brutally honest look at where we are and what we must do to clean up our mess. The World Cup finals is the benchmark by which the quality of the national and continental game is measured. And on that score, we’re failing miserably.
African football has not moved a single inch beyond the quarter-final Rubicon, crossed by Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions at the 1990 World Cup finals in Italy – twenty one long years ago. Is this a situation of which we can be proud?
How do we continue to tolerate a situation where the Cup of Nations finals offers a measly $1.5 million to the winner and much less to the rest, making the most prestigious tournament in Africa a financial drain pipe on national associations – as the cost of qualifying for the tournament far exceeds the winnings on offer?
Or circumstances where CAF’s committee for ethics and fair play was presided over by a man – the disgraced Amos Adamu – whose conduct and career record has been, to all that know him, anything but ethical, as he ponders the possibility of criminal trial in a Nigerian court?
The only thing that really mattered to most of our leaders, as I witnessed, at the Friendship Hall in Khartoum, venue of the congress on February 23rd, was how to share the spoils of power on the CAF and FIFA executive committees – primarily for personal benefit, rather than for the interests of the larger commonwealth.
The night before the poll saw most of the contestants in late night caucus “meetings” lasting into the early morning.
Even paid officials of the CAF secretariat, who are supposed to be above the political fray, got their hands dirty in the politicking.
One particular official went as far as working against his own country’s interests, making a 3am visit to a member of his country’s delegation on February 22nd, to convince him to advice his candidate to step down, as the paid CAF official was in support of Algeria’s Mohamed Raouroua.
Whilst the secretaries of the various regional football groupings, like WAFU, COSAFA and CECAFA, delivered uninspiring reports, not a single proposal for the betterment of African football was on the agenda, discussed or raised by any federation president at the congress!
Omari Selemani, the president of the DR Congo Federation - who was the only national FA president to rise to the podium – sang the praises, sycophantically, of CAF president Issa Hayatou, rather than discuss the burning issues that really matter. It was, from my viewpoint, a nauseating sight.
But none of the frightened or financially compromised federation presidents (by petrodollars from the Arabian Gulf, in order to sway their vote to a particular FIFA exco candidate) had the courage to stand up before their colleagues and tell the African football family the bitter truth about the parlous state of our game, which is in desperate need of repair.
And for Hayatou, who will have served an unprecedented 25 years as CAF president, by the time his current tenure expires in 2013, there is no doubt that his health is failing.
Having bumped into him several times at Khartoum’s imposing Burj El Fateh hotel, where we both stayed, it is evident that, at 65, he no longer has the vitality and drive needed for this pressure-cooker job.
One can only hope that his comments in a recent interview with Radio France International, in which he said “it's time to think about standing down and leaving”, are genuine.
Without doubt, Hayatou’s done some good things for Africa. But it’s high time he takes an honourable bow and leaves the stage, before finding himself in the maelstrom of a popular revolt, which, inevitably, will consume him.
I vividly recall Hayatou telling me seven years ago - March 1st 2004 to be precise - in the back of a London black taxi cab (Mali’s Amadou Diakhite and Tunisia’s Slim Aloulou, both banned by FIFA, witnessed this conversation) that he had no intention of staying in his position for 25 years. But we all know the end to that story.
Disgruntled and dismayed, as the African game goes adrift, it is time for the men of intellect, vision, integrity and drive to seize the political initiative.
They can no longer moan from the sidelines and expect the staid, conservative old order to willingly hand over the reins of power they have injudiciously wielded, to their selfish benefit, for decades. As the legendary Kwame Nkrumah famously said, “seek ye first the political kingdom and all other things will be added to you.”
Only a concerted and sustained plan by the “progressives”, to win the CAF presidency in 2013, will kick start the managerial revolution that will set African football on a course enabling it to conquer the summit of the global game.
There is a man, from the southern part of the continent (his name should be pretty obvious), who is eminently qualified to lead the charge and forge a dynamic agenda. But he’s yet to throw his hat into the CAF presidential ring.
So, will this man and true lovers of the African game, with balls, (pardon the pun) please stand up? The battle for African football’s soul has just begun…
The piece is replicated below.
African football needs radical change – fast!
By Osasu Obayiuwana
My romance with football – as a journalist and broadcaster – began 24 years ago. It is truly amazing how swiftly the bird of time can fly.
Every dream and ambition I had as a “wet-eared” football journalist has been realised – I’ve covered World Cups and several international tournaments, great African and European club matches, had enlightening conversations with the game’s elite players and officials, as well as having a platform to put my views across to a global audience.
But the game brings me little joy in these troubled times, as the stench of ineptitude, inertia and nepotism, particularly in the African game, puts me – and many of us that deeply care about its future – in a state of despondence and militancy.
The guardians of our game – the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and its 53 member national associations across the continent (South Sudan will become CAF’s 54th member, after its formal commencement as a sovereign state in July) – are frighteningly unaware, or unconcerned, about the precarious state our game is in and an urgent need to chart a course that will halt our rapid decline.
While there’s no question that the 2010 World Cup finals, organised by South Africa, was a resounding success and a credit to the skills of the Local Organising Committee, led by CEO Danny Jordaan, Africa’s performance on the pitch was pathetic.
Five out of our six representatives – Algeria, Cameroon, Cote D’Ivoire, Nigeria and South Africa – fell at the first hurdle, with Ghana’s Black Stars bearing, creditably, the onerous burden of saving Africa from total shame.
With that in mind, I assumed CAF’s 33rd Ordinary General Assembly in Khartoum, Sudan – the birthplace of CAF in 1957 – would provide the perfect forum for the continent’s football mandarins to take an unvarnished, brutally honest look at where we are and what we must do to clean up our mess. The World Cup finals is the benchmark by which the quality of the national and continental game is measured. And on that score, we’re failing miserably.
African football has not moved a single inch beyond the quarter-final Rubicon, crossed by Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions at the 1990 World Cup finals in Italy – twenty one long years ago. Is this a situation of which we can be proud?
How do we continue to tolerate a situation where the Cup of Nations finals offers a measly $1.5 million to the winner and much less to the rest, making the most prestigious tournament in Africa a financial drain pipe on national associations – as the cost of qualifying for the tournament far exceeds the winnings on offer?
Or circumstances where CAF’s committee for ethics and fair play was presided over by a man – the disgraced Amos Adamu – whose conduct and career record has been, to all that know him, anything but ethical, as he ponders the possibility of criminal trial in a Nigerian court?
The only thing that really mattered to most of our leaders, as I witnessed, at the Friendship Hall in Khartoum, venue of the congress on February 23rd, was how to share the spoils of power on the CAF and FIFA executive committees – primarily for personal benefit, rather than for the interests of the larger commonwealth.
The night before the poll saw most of the contestants in late night caucus “meetings” lasting into the early morning.
Even paid officials of the CAF secretariat, who are supposed to be above the political fray, got their hands dirty in the politicking.
One particular official went as far as working against his own country’s interests, making a 3am visit to a member of his country’s delegation on February 22nd, to convince him to advice his candidate to step down, as the paid CAF official was in support of Algeria’s Mohamed Raouroua.
Whilst the secretaries of the various regional football groupings, like WAFU, COSAFA and CECAFA, delivered uninspiring reports, not a single proposal for the betterment of African football was on the agenda, discussed or raised by any federation president at the congress!
Omari Selemani, the president of the DR Congo Federation - who was the only national FA president to rise to the podium – sang the praises, sycophantically, of CAF president Issa Hayatou, rather than discuss the burning issues that really matter. It was, from my viewpoint, a nauseating sight.
But none of the frightened or financially compromised federation presidents (by petrodollars from the Arabian Gulf, in order to sway their vote to a particular FIFA exco candidate) had the courage to stand up before their colleagues and tell the African football family the bitter truth about the parlous state of our game, which is in desperate need of repair.
And for Hayatou, who will have served an unprecedented 25 years as CAF president, by the time his current tenure expires in 2013, there is no doubt that his health is failing.
Having bumped into him several times at Khartoum’s imposing Burj El Fateh hotel, where we both stayed, it is evident that, at 65, he no longer has the vitality and drive needed for this pressure-cooker job.
One can only hope that his comments in a recent interview with Radio France International, in which he said “it's time to think about standing down and leaving”, are genuine.
Without doubt, Hayatou’s done some good things for Africa. But it’s high time he takes an honourable bow and leaves the stage, before finding himself in the maelstrom of a popular revolt, which, inevitably, will consume him.
I vividly recall Hayatou telling me seven years ago - March 1st 2004 to be precise - in the back of a London black taxi cab (Mali’s Amadou Diakhite and Tunisia’s Slim Aloulou, both banned by FIFA, witnessed this conversation) that he had no intention of staying in his position for 25 years. But we all know the end to that story.
Disgruntled and dismayed, as the African game goes adrift, it is time for the men of intellect, vision, integrity and drive to seize the political initiative.
They can no longer moan from the sidelines and expect the staid, conservative old order to willingly hand over the reins of power they have injudiciously wielded, to their selfish benefit, for decades. As the legendary Kwame Nkrumah famously said, “seek ye first the political kingdom and all other things will be added to you.”
Only a concerted and sustained plan by the “progressives”, to win the CAF presidency in 2013, will kick start the managerial revolution that will set African football on a course enabling it to conquer the summit of the global game.
There is a man, from the southern part of the continent (his name should be pretty obvious), who is eminently qualified to lead the charge and forge a dynamic agenda. But he’s yet to throw his hat into the CAF presidential ring.
So, will this man and true lovers of the African game, with balls, (pardon the pun) please stand up? The battle for African football’s soul has just begun…
The Hypocrisy of the GOC Saga
Just when we thought the nation’s troubles with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) were nearing an end, the former President of the now defunct Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) B. T. Baba has muddied the waters with claims that the proposed amendment to the SMCD 54 (the National Sports Law) does not satisfy the Olympic Charter.
Mr. Baba contends that the New Sports regulation LI 1988 does not guarantee the total independence of the Ghana Olympic Committee because section 42 of the parent law (SMCD 54) still permits the Minister to revise the law and that invalidates everything that the new L.I. seeks to do.
Never mind that any proposed changes to a LI by a minister must be reviewed and approved by parliament. That is, no minister can arbitrarily change an existing legislative instrument without parliamentary oversight.
By Mr. Baba’s logic no law passed in Ghana will be good enough for the IOC because proposed changes can be initiated by an individual.
In a letter addressed to the Subsidiary Legislation Committee of Parliament titled RE: New Sports Regulations, LI 1988, Mr. Baba described the latest action as “mere window dressing by the government.”
This comes after the Ministry of Youth and Sports presented to Parliament a new Legislative Instrument (LI) to replace the old LI 1088 based on the Sports Law SMDC 54 in consonance with the statues of International Federations (IF) and in line with the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) charter.
The new LI mandates democratic elections onto all National Sports Associations in line with their respective International Federations (IF) and by extension the IOC Charter while ensuring autonomy for sports associations in the country.
In the face of the above petition by Mr. Baba, there is a need to take a critical look at the merits and demerits of his case.
1. Does Mr. Baba have the locus to present himself as President of the GOC?
2. Is Mr. Baba’s assertion that section 42 of the parent law (SMCD 54) grants power to arbitrarily change the law a sound interpretation of the law?
3. When IOC gave Ghana the roadmap, did it ask Mr. Baba to supervise and approve the mechanism through which Ghana becomes compliant with the IOC Charter?
(i) MIS-REPRESENTATION BY BABA?
It will be recalled that the IOC suspended Ghana from its organisation on 13th January, 2011 because the country’s sports law does not respect the provisions of the Olympic Charter. Thus, for all practical purposes, Ghana no longer has a national Olympic committee. Neither Ghana nor Mr. Baba can claim such an organization while our “license” is revoked.
So it is very interesting that Mr. Baba presented himself as the President of the Ghana Olympic Committee in his letter to Parliament dated 15th February, 2011. Presenting himself as such seems like a misrepresentation of his current position.
It creates an air of authority that neither Ghana, as a country, or IOC for that manner currently recognizes. Ghana is currently suspended from the Olympic Movement.
Unfortunately Mr. Baba continues to conflate his role in helping to move Ghana sports forward. Throughout this saga, he has portrayed himself the IOC gatekeeper in Ghana and continues to do so.
What else explains his rational for copying (CC) IOC on his letter to parliament? At best, it demonstrates his limited understanding of Ghana’s predicament with IOC and his role as things currently stand.
At worse, this could be interpreted as ploy to intimidate members of parliament into believing IOC tacitly disapproves of the manner in which Ghana intends to get back into compliance.
IS SECTION 42 OF THE SMCD 54 A BARRIER TO IOC COMPLIANCE?
Again it is Mr. Baba position that section 42 of the SMCD 54, which permits the Minister to revise the sports law, invalidates everything about the new Legislative instrument (LI).
Indeed, Mr. Baba suggests on page three of his petition that the new regulation does not debar the minister from making future proposals under section 42 of the SMCD 54 to replace the new LI 1988!
Again, Mr. Baba’s premise and logic is seriously flawed. First, section 42 of SMCD 54 only gives the minister the power to propose revisions. Almost all sports ministers and or ministries in the modern world lead the initiative to revise national sports law when and if required.
The power to initiate or propose revision does not amount to arbitrary changes to the law whenever a minister chooses. Indeed, similar to other democratic nations, Ghana’s constitution provides the necessary checks and balances.
Any proposed LI changes, including those related to sports, must go through parliament and be approved.
They also typically pass through the Attorney General’s office, as that is where they are drafted. During the time they are laid in parliament they also offer the opportunity to stakeholders and citizens to comment on the law (as in the current opportunity Mr. Baba is taking advantage of now).
Thus the ultimate power to cause change lies with parliament not the sports minister. This is such a fundamental misunderstanding of the legislative process from Mr. Baba’s end.
It is also erroneous for Mr. Baba to suggest that a revision will be useful only insofar as it can never ever be changed. Not even IOC’s own constitution is immune to change. Or, will Mr. Baba in the near future accuse the IOC of window dressing if IOC’s President, as an individual, proposes constitutional change for consideration at its general assembly?
Effectively, Mr. Baba seems to want a law that can, subsequently, never be changed. Even the entrenched clauses in our national constitution can be changed, albeit after a very rigorous process. How can we write a law that can never be changed?
After what the nation has gone through since the 30th June, 2009 GOC elections, it is almost unthinkable that a particular political group or a law maker would propose reverting to the old Legislative Instrument, or to a situation where Ghana once again appoint officers to associations, if the New LI is passed into Law.
Moreover, Mr. Baba’s attempt to link Ghana’s suspension by the IOC to our inability to pass a New Sports Bill is, at the very least, quite strange.
The veteran administrator implicitly suggested that because the IOC suspension letter explicitly faulted Ghana for not passing the Sports Bill (despite our promise to do so), any attempt to change our legislation that doesn't involve the Sports Bill will not satisfy the IOC’s conditions.
However, a look at the IOC’s correspondence with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and in particular the “Road Map”, reveals that it is the language of our current sports legislation that is problematic (and they likely explicitly referred to the Sports Bill only because the former Minister of Youth and Sports erroneously promised that it would be passed by December 2010).
But, what if Ghana acceded to his wishes and wrote a law that could not be changed by anyone and, five years from now, IOC revises their charter in a way that requires our law to be revised again? How would we then revise the law that we have cemented in unchangeable stone? We would be stuck.
The revised LI under review in Parliament right now, does all things the IOC has asked Ghana to do. The process of revising an LI requires parliamentary oversight and approval.
Thus, no minister can wake up one morning and arbitrarily decide to the change the sports regulations in Ghana. Mr. Baba need not be afraid of that, if that is really what his concern is.
CONTROVERSY OVER B.T. BABA’S ROLE IN ASSOCIATION ELECTIONS
One other issue which Mr. Baba continues to use as an additional reason for not accepting the new legislation is the issue of supervision of the recent elections for the various associations following the IOC’s intervention.
First of all, no matter how many times Mr. Baba goes back to this, it is no longer an issue of contention for IOC, and this is proven by the IOC’s letter. Indeed, their letter of 13th January, 2011, suspending Ghana makes absolutely no mention of this, and only refers to the need to revise our sports legislation.
In his letter to parliament, he stated that the IOC Road Map recommended that elections be conducted democratically and supervised by the executive of the GOC. The assertion of supervision by the executive of GOC is a gross misrepresentation of the facts.
In Section 2a of the IOC roadmap letter of November 25, 2009, the IOC explicitly states “the NFs (i.e., the associations) should hold elections of their leaders as soon as possible under the supervision of their respective International Federations (IF)”.
What this means is that the Ghana Hockey Association, for example, was supposed to conduct elections under the auspices of the FIH (Federation of International Hockey), not the GOC.
The IOC in section 2b concedes that “recognition by the IFs is the condition for being considered legitimate within the Olympic Movement”. In other words, recognition of a Ghanaian sports association is the purview of the International Federation for that sport not IOC. Are we to believe Mr. Baba has the power to claim a mandate that even IOC considers outside its purview?
WHERE THINGS STAND
Well, the Subsidiary Legislation Committee of Parliament is due to invite Mr. Baba for a meeting on his petition at a later date but the clock is ticking as we count down the 21 day notice before the new sports legislative instrument LI 1988 becomes Law.
Surely, Mr. Baba cannot be saying he doesn't want this legislation that will bring Ghana in full compliance with the IOC charter and help lift the cloud of the Olympic suspension. Or could it be that his real want is for Ghana to remain suspended?
Some have suggested that if he can ensure we stay suspended for a few more months until 2012, then he is the one who could lead Ghana to London once the suspension is lifted, because there may not be enough time to hold a GOC election before the Games.
I hope this is not true and that Mr. Baba is not thinking about self over nation; but then, for 14 years he did absolutely nothing to get Ghana to move in the direction of democratic associations, not even when the chance presented itself in 2008 as we all witnessed when athletics stakeholders wanted to take their sport to a congress.
Now, since 2009, guess who has repositioned himself as the staunchest advocate of democratic associations? Wonders will never cease! Mr. Baba, come again!
No law is meant to be set in stone; not even IOC’s constitution.
Therefore from a logical perspective, questioning the standard democratic process for repealing and replacing outdated legislative instruments is a questionable move.
To call the effort to bring Ghana into full compliance with the IOC Charter “window dressing,” indicates an aversion to the LI itself and by extension the IOC Charter. The litmus test should be the nature of the content of LI 1988.
This is where B. T. Baba should focus his energy. But if he has already reviewed the content and the only fault he could find is the process, then I humbly ask Mr. Baba to move his stopped car off the road. It is time for Ghana sports to move forward.
Mr. Baba contends that the New Sports regulation LI 1988 does not guarantee the total independence of the Ghana Olympic Committee because section 42 of the parent law (SMCD 54) still permits the Minister to revise the law and that invalidates everything that the new L.I. seeks to do.
Never mind that any proposed changes to a LI by a minister must be reviewed and approved by parliament. That is, no minister can arbitrarily change an existing legislative instrument without parliamentary oversight.
By Mr. Baba’s logic no law passed in Ghana will be good enough for the IOC because proposed changes can be initiated by an individual.
In a letter addressed to the Subsidiary Legislation Committee of Parliament titled RE: New Sports Regulations, LI 1988, Mr. Baba described the latest action as “mere window dressing by the government.”
This comes after the Ministry of Youth and Sports presented to Parliament a new Legislative Instrument (LI) to replace the old LI 1088 based on the Sports Law SMDC 54 in consonance with the statues of International Federations (IF) and in line with the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) charter.
The new LI mandates democratic elections onto all National Sports Associations in line with their respective International Federations (IF) and by extension the IOC Charter while ensuring autonomy for sports associations in the country.
In the face of the above petition by Mr. Baba, there is a need to take a critical look at the merits and demerits of his case.
1. Does Mr. Baba have the locus to present himself as President of the GOC?
2. Is Mr. Baba’s assertion that section 42 of the parent law (SMCD 54) grants power to arbitrarily change the law a sound interpretation of the law?
3. When IOC gave Ghana the roadmap, did it ask Mr. Baba to supervise and approve the mechanism through which Ghana becomes compliant with the IOC Charter?
(i) MIS-REPRESENTATION BY BABA?
It will be recalled that the IOC suspended Ghana from its organisation on 13th January, 2011 because the country’s sports law does not respect the provisions of the Olympic Charter. Thus, for all practical purposes, Ghana no longer has a national Olympic committee. Neither Ghana nor Mr. Baba can claim such an organization while our “license” is revoked.
So it is very interesting that Mr. Baba presented himself as the President of the Ghana Olympic Committee in his letter to Parliament dated 15th February, 2011. Presenting himself as such seems like a misrepresentation of his current position.
It creates an air of authority that neither Ghana, as a country, or IOC for that manner currently recognizes. Ghana is currently suspended from the Olympic Movement.
Unfortunately Mr. Baba continues to conflate his role in helping to move Ghana sports forward. Throughout this saga, he has portrayed himself the IOC gatekeeper in Ghana and continues to do so.
What else explains his rational for copying (CC) IOC on his letter to parliament? At best, it demonstrates his limited understanding of Ghana’s predicament with IOC and his role as things currently stand.
At worse, this could be interpreted as ploy to intimidate members of parliament into believing IOC tacitly disapproves of the manner in which Ghana intends to get back into compliance.
IS SECTION 42 OF THE SMCD 54 A BARRIER TO IOC COMPLIANCE?
Again it is Mr. Baba position that section 42 of the SMCD 54, which permits the Minister to revise the sports law, invalidates everything about the new Legislative instrument (LI).
Indeed, Mr. Baba suggests on page three of his petition that the new regulation does not debar the minister from making future proposals under section 42 of the SMCD 54 to replace the new LI 1988!
Again, Mr. Baba’s premise and logic is seriously flawed. First, section 42 of SMCD 54 only gives the minister the power to propose revisions. Almost all sports ministers and or ministries in the modern world lead the initiative to revise national sports law when and if required.
The power to initiate or propose revision does not amount to arbitrary changes to the law whenever a minister chooses. Indeed, similar to other democratic nations, Ghana’s constitution provides the necessary checks and balances.
Any proposed LI changes, including those related to sports, must go through parliament and be approved.
They also typically pass through the Attorney General’s office, as that is where they are drafted. During the time they are laid in parliament they also offer the opportunity to stakeholders and citizens to comment on the law (as in the current opportunity Mr. Baba is taking advantage of now).
Thus the ultimate power to cause change lies with parliament not the sports minister. This is such a fundamental misunderstanding of the legislative process from Mr. Baba’s end.
It is also erroneous for Mr. Baba to suggest that a revision will be useful only insofar as it can never ever be changed. Not even IOC’s own constitution is immune to change. Or, will Mr. Baba in the near future accuse the IOC of window dressing if IOC’s President, as an individual, proposes constitutional change for consideration at its general assembly?
Effectively, Mr. Baba seems to want a law that can, subsequently, never be changed. Even the entrenched clauses in our national constitution can be changed, albeit after a very rigorous process. How can we write a law that can never be changed?
After what the nation has gone through since the 30th June, 2009 GOC elections, it is almost unthinkable that a particular political group or a law maker would propose reverting to the old Legislative Instrument, or to a situation where Ghana once again appoint officers to associations, if the New LI is passed into Law.
Moreover, Mr. Baba’s attempt to link Ghana’s suspension by the IOC to our inability to pass a New Sports Bill is, at the very least, quite strange.
The veteran administrator implicitly suggested that because the IOC suspension letter explicitly faulted Ghana for not passing the Sports Bill (despite our promise to do so), any attempt to change our legislation that doesn't involve the Sports Bill will not satisfy the IOC’s conditions.
However, a look at the IOC’s correspondence with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and in particular the “Road Map”, reveals that it is the language of our current sports legislation that is problematic (and they likely explicitly referred to the Sports Bill only because the former Minister of Youth and Sports erroneously promised that it would be passed by December 2010).
But, what if Ghana acceded to his wishes and wrote a law that could not be changed by anyone and, five years from now, IOC revises their charter in a way that requires our law to be revised again? How would we then revise the law that we have cemented in unchangeable stone? We would be stuck.
The revised LI under review in Parliament right now, does all things the IOC has asked Ghana to do. The process of revising an LI requires parliamentary oversight and approval.
Thus, no minister can wake up one morning and arbitrarily decide to the change the sports regulations in Ghana. Mr. Baba need not be afraid of that, if that is really what his concern is.
CONTROVERSY OVER B.T. BABA’S ROLE IN ASSOCIATION ELECTIONS
One other issue which Mr. Baba continues to use as an additional reason for not accepting the new legislation is the issue of supervision of the recent elections for the various associations following the IOC’s intervention.
First of all, no matter how many times Mr. Baba goes back to this, it is no longer an issue of contention for IOC, and this is proven by the IOC’s letter. Indeed, their letter of 13th January, 2011, suspending Ghana makes absolutely no mention of this, and only refers to the need to revise our sports legislation.
In his letter to parliament, he stated that the IOC Road Map recommended that elections be conducted democratically and supervised by the executive of the GOC. The assertion of supervision by the executive of GOC is a gross misrepresentation of the facts.
In Section 2a of the IOC roadmap letter of November 25, 2009, the IOC explicitly states “the NFs (i.e., the associations) should hold elections of their leaders as soon as possible under the supervision of their respective International Federations (IF)”.
What this means is that the Ghana Hockey Association, for example, was supposed to conduct elections under the auspices of the FIH (Federation of International Hockey), not the GOC.
The IOC in section 2b concedes that “recognition by the IFs is the condition for being considered legitimate within the Olympic Movement”. In other words, recognition of a Ghanaian sports association is the purview of the International Federation for that sport not IOC. Are we to believe Mr. Baba has the power to claim a mandate that even IOC considers outside its purview?
WHERE THINGS STAND
Well, the Subsidiary Legislation Committee of Parliament is due to invite Mr. Baba for a meeting on his petition at a later date but the clock is ticking as we count down the 21 day notice before the new sports legislative instrument LI 1988 becomes Law.
Surely, Mr. Baba cannot be saying he doesn't want this legislation that will bring Ghana in full compliance with the IOC charter and help lift the cloud of the Olympic suspension. Or could it be that his real want is for Ghana to remain suspended?
Some have suggested that if he can ensure we stay suspended for a few more months until 2012, then he is the one who could lead Ghana to London once the suspension is lifted, because there may not be enough time to hold a GOC election before the Games.
I hope this is not true and that Mr. Baba is not thinking about self over nation; but then, for 14 years he did absolutely nothing to get Ghana to move in the direction of democratic associations, not even when the chance presented itself in 2008 as we all witnessed when athletics stakeholders wanted to take their sport to a congress.
Now, since 2009, guess who has repositioned himself as the staunchest advocate of democratic associations? Wonders will never cease! Mr. Baba, come again!
No law is meant to be set in stone; not even IOC’s constitution.
Therefore from a logical perspective, questioning the standard democratic process for repealing and replacing outdated legislative instruments is a questionable move.
To call the effort to bring Ghana into full compliance with the IOC Charter “window dressing,” indicates an aversion to the LI itself and by extension the IOC Charter. The litmus test should be the nature of the content of LI 1988.
This is where B. T. Baba should focus his energy. But if he has already reviewed the content and the only fault he could find is the process, then I humbly ask Mr. Baba to move his stopped car off the road. It is time for Ghana sports to move forward.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Ministry of Sports Revises Problematic Legislative Instrument of Current Sports Law
Ghana has moved a step closer to resolving its problems with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
A Minister of state at the Presidency, Stephen Amanor Kwao acting upon the orders of the President last Tuesday presented to Parliament a new Legislative Instrument (LI) to replace the old LI 1088 based on the Sports Law SMDC 54.
The new LI mandates democratic elections onto all National Sports Federations while ensuring professionalism in the administration of sports in the country.
The change comes after exhaustive consultations confirming the legality of such a document.
This will unequivocally ensure that National Sports Associations are governed in consonance with the statues of their respective International Federations (IF) and in line with the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) charter.
The New LI will automatically become Law in 21 days if no counter motion is raised by members of parliament.
The IOC suspended Ghana from its organisation earlier this year due to alleged “political interference” in the affairs of the Ghana Olympic Committee.
The IOC contends that the country’s sports law does not respect the provisions of the Olympic charter" and that the nation’s Sports Law, does not guarantee the autonomy of the Ghana Olympic Committee.
The suspension means Ghana's Olympic funding has been withdrawn and the country will be barred from the 2012 Olympics if a solution is not arrived at prior to the event.
Controversy with appointments of officials to Sports Associations:
The government made new appointments to the various Sports Associations in the country in June 2009 drawing its power from the Sports Law, SMCD 54 and specifically LI 1088.
However, the IOC ordered the Associations to democratically elect new leaders following disputed Ghana Olympic Committee elections on 30th June, 2009.
In good faith, the government of Ghana allowed the Associations to comply with the IOC request and elected new leaders accordingly. Ghana subsequently asked for the IOC to instruct GOC to convene a date for congress.
However, IOC demanded the passage of a new Sports Law in line with its charter by December 2010 as promised by the previous minister for Sports.
Ghana was unable to comply with the latter request in the required timeframe.
The IOC's executive committee voted to suspend Ghana on 13th January saying it had been compelled to expel Ghana due to its inability to fulfill an earlier promise to amend its national law.
It however remains to be seen if the IOC will accept the new LI once it is passed into Law.
A Minister of state at the Presidency, Stephen Amanor Kwao acting upon the orders of the President last Tuesday presented to Parliament a new Legislative Instrument (LI) to replace the old LI 1088 based on the Sports Law SMDC 54.
The new LI mandates democratic elections onto all National Sports Federations while ensuring professionalism in the administration of sports in the country.
The change comes after exhaustive consultations confirming the legality of such a document.
This will unequivocally ensure that National Sports Associations are governed in consonance with the statues of their respective International Federations (IF) and in line with the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) charter.
The New LI will automatically become Law in 21 days if no counter motion is raised by members of parliament.
The IOC suspended Ghana from its organisation earlier this year due to alleged “political interference” in the affairs of the Ghana Olympic Committee.
The IOC contends that the country’s sports law does not respect the provisions of the Olympic charter" and that the nation’s Sports Law, does not guarantee the autonomy of the Ghana Olympic Committee.
The suspension means Ghana's Olympic funding has been withdrawn and the country will be barred from the 2012 Olympics if a solution is not arrived at prior to the event.
Controversy with appointments of officials to Sports Associations:
The government made new appointments to the various Sports Associations in the country in June 2009 drawing its power from the Sports Law, SMCD 54 and specifically LI 1088.
However, the IOC ordered the Associations to democratically elect new leaders following disputed Ghana Olympic Committee elections on 30th June, 2009.
In good faith, the government of Ghana allowed the Associations to comply with the IOC request and elected new leaders accordingly. Ghana subsequently asked for the IOC to instruct GOC to convene a date for congress.
However, IOC demanded the passage of a new Sports Law in line with its charter by December 2010 as promised by the previous minister for Sports.
Ghana was unable to comply with the latter request in the required timeframe.
The IOC's executive committee voted to suspend Ghana on 13th January saying it had been compelled to expel Ghana due to its inability to fulfill an earlier promise to amend its national law.
It however remains to be seen if the IOC will accept the new LI once it is passed into Law.
African Governments must not repeat past mistakes
The President of the Zambian Football Association Kalusha Bwalya is calling on African governments not to jeopardise the safety of their national teams in the name of cutting down cost.
Kalusha, who was reminiscing on the Zambian national team that perished in the 1993 air disaster off the coast of Gabon, alleged that officials hired the services of the Zambian Air Force plane (which unfortunately crashed) in order to cut down cost.
Speaking on E TV’s Revealed last Tuesday, the Zambian football legend decried the manner in which national teams are treated by governments on the African continent.
This follows recent revelations by the former Togolese national team goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale on the BBC that Togo choose to travel into Angola by bus for the 2010 African Nations Cup to save money but which resulted in the fatal gun attack on the team by rebels.
“My coach, various coaches always said that in other to be champion you have to treat the people as champions” the Zambian legend said adding that “and you always expect so much from the team, you expect so much from the boys so you always have to give them the best treatment.”
“So these are mistakes that should never be made at the expense of players because we are dealing with human beings, we are dealing with emotions, we are dealing with countries.”
The 1988 African Footballer of the year recounted with horror the events leading to the 17th April 1993 Air disaster in which the entire Zambian team and management were killed when their plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off Gabon.
Kalusha recalled that the Zambian National team encountered some discomfort travelling on the Air force plane, “the Buffalo” during an earlier qualifier away at Madagascar prior to the fatal date.
“It was not a commercial flight but sometimes because of the cost and it was important to travel with a plane that will go at a particular time.
“The Football Association of Zambia will ask the government and the air force and then they will able to make available the plane because it cut cost.
“Funny because in the plane the seats were not reclined, you be sitting like this, military style.”
Eighteen years after the crash, Kalusha Bwalya who is the President of the Zambian Football Association reckons that some African Nations are beginning to show more professionalism in managing national team affairs.
“I think that is important and our teams have changed over the years. You see a lot more professionalism in the way our teams are organised,” he said.
“You can see that in the way Nigeria, Ghana, Cote D Ivoire and Egypt are handled.
“There are a lot of teams you can see from the way they present themselves and they way they are that they have had all these success because of the vision of their leaders.”
Despite Kalusha’s optimism, the Zambian government is yet to officially release the finding of its investigations into the 1993 Zambian National team disaster.
African National teams including the Black Star of Ghana continue to patronise the services of military planes on their International travels.
Kalusha Bwalya was speaking to E TV Sports Presenter Erasmus Kwaw.
http://www.goal.com/en/news/89/africa/2011/02/11/2348364/african-governments-must-not-repeat-past-mistakes-zambia-fa#comments
Kalusha, who was reminiscing on the Zambian national team that perished in the 1993 air disaster off the coast of Gabon, alleged that officials hired the services of the Zambian Air Force plane (which unfortunately crashed) in order to cut down cost.
Speaking on E TV’s Revealed last Tuesday, the Zambian football legend decried the manner in which national teams are treated by governments on the African continent.
This follows recent revelations by the former Togolese national team goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale on the BBC that Togo choose to travel into Angola by bus for the 2010 African Nations Cup to save money but which resulted in the fatal gun attack on the team by rebels.
“My coach, various coaches always said that in other to be champion you have to treat the people as champions” the Zambian legend said adding that “and you always expect so much from the team, you expect so much from the boys so you always have to give them the best treatment.”
“So these are mistakes that should never be made at the expense of players because we are dealing with human beings, we are dealing with emotions, we are dealing with countries.”
The 1988 African Footballer of the year recounted with horror the events leading to the 17th April 1993 Air disaster in which the entire Zambian team and management were killed when their plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off Gabon.
Kalusha recalled that the Zambian National team encountered some discomfort travelling on the Air force plane, “the Buffalo” during an earlier qualifier away at Madagascar prior to the fatal date.
“It was not a commercial flight but sometimes because of the cost and it was important to travel with a plane that will go at a particular time.
“The Football Association of Zambia will ask the government and the air force and then they will able to make available the plane because it cut cost.
“Funny because in the plane the seats were not reclined, you be sitting like this, military style.”
Eighteen years after the crash, Kalusha Bwalya who is the President of the Zambian Football Association reckons that some African Nations are beginning to show more professionalism in managing national team affairs.
“I think that is important and our teams have changed over the years. You see a lot more professionalism in the way our teams are organised,” he said.
“You can see that in the way Nigeria, Ghana, Cote D Ivoire and Egypt are handled.
“There are a lot of teams you can see from the way they present themselves and they way they are that they have had all these success because of the vision of their leaders.”
Despite Kalusha’s optimism, the Zambian government is yet to officially release the finding of its investigations into the 1993 Zambian National team disaster.
African National teams including the Black Star of Ghana continue to patronise the services of military planes on their International travels.
Kalusha Bwalya was speaking to E TV Sports Presenter Erasmus Kwaw.
http://www.goal.com/en/news/89/africa/2011/02/11/2348364/african-governments-must-not-repeat-past-mistakes-zambia-fa#comments
Saturday, January 15, 2011
GOC AMPASSE- A TIME BOMB
A dark cloud is hovering around the country’s relationship with the international Olympic Committee as the deadline for the passage of the Nation’s Sports Bill nears.
Indeed the Sports authorities have called the bluff of the International Olympic Committee over their threat to sanction Ghana should we fail to promulgate into Law the New Sports Bill by the end of the year, but the call might have come 16 months late.
When the IOC first came up with its Road Map to get the country re-integrated into the Olympic body following claims of third party interference in the GOC congress over 16 months ago, the government had very few options available.
The IOC has essentially told Ghana that the same process that brought the old Ghana Olympic Committee administration to office could not be used to bring the new administration to office.
Three questions the IOC has shied away from answering are (i) Why they rejected the same process that brought the old GOC into being and re-elected them at least twice, (ii) Why they want the new GOC to turn power back to the old GOC that was elected in the same way, and (iii) Why did the old GOC call for Congress even though they knew the various sports association executives had been appointed and not elected, while they knew all along that the IOC did not want to work with appointed executives.
These are three crucial questions that make it clear what is really going on. However, many pundits choose not to address these questions and rather make allusions to shenanigans that were supposed to have taken place during the Congress, and in support of this line of argument they make reference to government agents who were not supposed to be at the Congress, but who attended.
The name that has been mentioned over and over again is that of Nii Lantey Vanderpuije. But, it appears that he had basis for being there in his then-capacity as appointed Chairman of the Weightlifting Association.
Another apparently diversionary tactic is the reference to the fact that President B.T. Baba closed the Congress after it started, suggesting that everything that happened subsequently, including the election of the new officers, should be null and void, despite the election being overseen by the esteemed Electoral Commission of Ghana!
I refer to this as “apparently diversionary” because when the IOC came to town in November, in response to a question about why they had deemed it necessary to sanction Ghana—i.e., whether it was because of the alleged shenanigans, or whether it was because of President Baba who had allegedly closed the congress—they stated clearly that it had nothing to do with any of those reasons.
Their position was that whenever a government appoints association executives who then go forth to GOC congress, they consider that “government interference”. They were emphatic that the issue was as simple as that. In that statement, they conceded that it had nothing to do with any shenanigans, nothing to do with any shredded documents, nothing to do with illegally continuing an officially closed congress, nothing to do with any of these at all. It was simply because we (Ghana) appointed association members as our law then gave the government the authority to.
Again this background, the three crucial questions become very significant. To repeat the third: why would the old GOC call for congress when they knew the associations were appointed not elected as the IOC wanted? What were they trying to do? And if they had won the election, would they have told IOC that the associations were not appointed? That actually raises a question about what they have told the IOC about Ghana’s appointive processes in the past, that is before last June’s fated congress.
So, why did the government not contest the IOC more strongly, given that they allegedly favored the newly elected GOC? Perhaps, the government was afraid of the possible sanctions that pundits in Ghana were always threatening and wanted to please the International body? But in doing so, they sold the sovereign rights of the country on a silver platter to an organisation that deals ruthlessly with anyone who dares lay a hand on “one of its own.”
The decision has come back to hunt them.
HISTORY OF GOC AMPASSE
For those of you who are strangers in Jerusalem, the GOC saga goes like this: The then GOC administration under B.T. Baba sought to prolong their stay in office months after the new government took office in 2009 by calling for congress on 30th June, 2009.
But the then new government saw through the plan and quickly appointed new leaders to the various sports Associations who had the power to elect the new chairman of the GOC.
When the day of congress came, the new appointed leaders of the Associations converged much to the annoyance of B.T. Baba who stormed out of the congress grounds complaining of “third party influence.”
The IOC continues to regard the old administration led by B. T. Baba as the legitimate GOC while the government backs that newly elected Professor Francis Dodoo administration.
THE NUETRALITY OF THE IOC
As the parent body of the GOC, the IOC was expected to act in a neutral manner as ascribed in the Olympic Charter. Perhaps it was with such conviction that President John Evans Atta Mils invited a delegation from the Olympic governing body to the country last year.
Sadly, the IOC’s action has been nothing like the fair play it espouses.
They have clearly taken sides in the impasse choosing to send official communication to the government through the Old GOC administration. Why do I say so? Well, right from the beginning—Congress was on June 30, 2009—in less than two weeks, IOC was already writing letters that based their decision on supposedly clear evidence of egregious interference.
Surely, by then they hadn’t even taken the chance to speak to the “other side” to verify whether what had been reported to them was true or not? So, how did they come to such definitive conclusions about what had happened in Ghana? Since then, the same pattern has continued.
To a question posed by the new GOC (to the IOC) when they met in November 2009 during the IOC’s visit, asking whether they (IOC) would still have come to Ghana if President Baba had won the election and been retained as president (even though the associations were still appointed), they gave themselves away by unwittingly saying “No”, they would not have come.
Now, that raises the question about whether they really did come because of governmental appointments to associations as they themselves said, or whether they came simply to retain B.T. Baba in his position? Remember, that the IOC executives probably consider themselves more likely to get B.T. Baba’s vote when they themselves are up for election, than they are likely to get the vote of someone else they are not familiar with.
It is also noteworthy to point out that similar disputes in the past have been resolved on the continent by International bodies in much more amicable ways.
One that comes to mind is the situation that prevailed at the Ghana Athletics Association last year.
After a dispute arose as to who constituted the leadership of the GAA following the appointment of new officers by the government, the International Association of Athletics Federations maintained a neutral role, refusing to recognize neither the new executives nor the old ones.
They took the principled position that they would only recognise the Secretary General of the organisation and sent all official communications through him until an IAAF backed Congress elected a new leadership for the GAA.
CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS
It must have come as a shock to the IOC when most of the National Sports Associations successfully went to congress and elected leaderships that are recognised by their respective International Federations.
The old executive and their agents made it sound as though these elections were concocted. But, it is the case that not all the old appointed executives won their elections. It is also the case that even people loyal to the old GOC President were able to win elections to become President, with no interference from any corners. A clear example of this is Sahnoon, who won the Presidency of the Cycling Association.
As President Baba’s lawyer, and the man who has represented the old GOC in legal matters, one would have thought that a government contrived election would have precluded him from winning. But, he won and has represented Ghana unfettered as President of Cycling.
Incidentally, it is this same gentleman that B.T. Baba appointed as Chef de Mission for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
SO WHAT DO WE THINK OF WHERE WE ARE NOW?
The current IOC directive to the Ministry of Youth and Sports to review the nation’s sports bill, the SMC Decree 54, before the end of the year or risk sanctions is very mischievous.
Firstly, under the legislative instrument for the SMC Decree 54, there are provisions that allow for democratic elections.
Quote…….The LI talks about the appointment of officers to Amateur Associations. (and doesn’t preclude elections).
PART II-PROFESSIONAL SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS
Regulation 9-Establishment of Professional Sports Associations.
(1) The National Council may cause to be established national professional sports
associations as the National Council may determine.
(2) A national professional sport association shall comprise such number of persons,
appointed to the association in such manner and shall have such functions, as the
National Council may, with the prior approval of the Commissioner, determine.
This was apparently why, despite the law, GFA was able to proceed to Congress in 2005.
The reality though is that apart from the Ghana Amateur Boxing Association, all the other sports Associations allow professional participants to play, and are therefore no longer amateur sports. In the 1980s, the IAAF (then International Amateur Athletics Federation) embraced professionalism and, although retaining the same acronym, became the International Association of Athletic Federations. They dropped the word “Amateur”.
In consonance, the Ghana Amateur Athletics Association (then GAAA), also droped one “A” (for Amateur) to become GAA, now Ghana Athletics Association.
Some of our volleyball and basketball national team players, and perhaps handball too, have played professionally in other countries, but then come back to represent Ghana.
The Ghana Football Association was able to exploit this LI to hold its first democratically elected congress in 2005, not only because the LI does not preclude elections, but also because they argued that many of the football players are professional. Just like for football, in all the other sports except amateur boxing, sportsmen and women can be professional and still come back and play for Ghana or under the auspices of the association.
So now, the Ghana Athletics Association, Ghana Table Tennis Association, Ghana Cricket Association among many others have similarly been to congress to elect their officials. And their respective international federations have ratified their elections.
So where lies in the argument by the IOC that national laws should conform to its Charter? If Ghana has complied by electing the association elections, why is the IOC now making the passage of the Sports Bill a precondition? Where in the regulation of the Olympic Charter is the specific provision that empowers them to demand a law be passed first? And looking back at the November 2009 roadmap, they (IOC) had not made it a precondition. So, are they simply muddying the waters now that their preconditions have been met by the elections and the subsequent ratification by international federations, simply because they want to retain President Baba by all means, or by any means necessary? We have done what they asked us to, now they must do what they promised to and lead B.T. Baba to the table of a new Congress. We are so fortunate that the new GOC has not also insisted on their rights; they could have argued that there need not be a new congress because they were legitimately elected by the laws of Ghana and by the GOC constitution. But, they have accepted to go to Congress. Why must B.T. Baba now hold Ghana sports back by refusing to go to Congress. And should we allow the IOC to help him do that?
Even if the new Sports Law is passed today, it would not annul all the elections that have been held because the Constitution does not allow Laws to operate retrospectively. Besides, the new executives, ratified by their international federations, have received a mandate for a certain number of years, and passing the sports bill cannot undo that. So, those people hoping that once the sports law is passed, they can argue that it is only then becoming legitimate to hold the association elections (because they want to erase the association congresses that have been held) cannot prevail. This is about sports, so they should do the sporting thing and concede this very costly strife that Ghana is suffering and simply go to Congress now. Ghana cannot continue to limp around in sports, and they are doing Ghana a big disservice in their selfish interests.
The ramifications are quite clear if Congress is called then.
But the fact still remains that Ghana has to amend its sports Law. That issue is primarily a national issue and the IOC must be fair.
Is the IOC saying its entire member Associations have modern sports Laws? The answer is quite obvious because many African nations are yet to upgrade their national laws to reflect current realities. Why is Ghana being made a scape goat then?
Having followed this story closely for the past sixteen months, I’m still intrigued to find out the answer to that question. Veteran journalist Kwabena Yeboah had the perfect answer in his article: Baba must prove his critics wrong which was published on Monday, August 23rd.
“You don’t need to overstretch your imagination to appreciate the I.O.C.’s bias. Determined to protect their overbearing influence in the world of sports, the I.O.C. jealously protects their “own” and fiercely rejects any governmental involvement, one they prefer to call “interference”.”
CONCLUSION
The current situation can be likened to an A-Level certificate holder who was asked by a University to acquire an SSCE Certificate before gaining admission.
However, when he sat for the WASSCE exam and acquired the Certificate, the University then told him that it was necessary for him to have gone back to SS1 and attended for the number of requisite years first. . The goalposts are shifting and the IOC only has one person’s interests at heart.
But you might want to ask who asked Ghana to assume the role of a student?
Such is life. If you fail to sort out your own affairs and allow an external force to dictate to you, then you are bound by their rules. Oh Ghana, why must we suffer so?
One thing is for sure, Ghana is not ready to pass the New Sports Bill into Law before the end of the year.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports is yet to make attempts to get the bill into Parliament under a certificate of urgency.
In retrospect, the Sports authorities should have re-drawn from the IOC, the minute the IOC asked for those recommendations.
The Clock is ticking…tick tock tick tock.
Indeed the Sports authorities have called the bluff of the International Olympic Committee over their threat to sanction Ghana should we fail to promulgate into Law the New Sports Bill by the end of the year, but the call might have come 16 months late.
When the IOC first came up with its Road Map to get the country re-integrated into the Olympic body following claims of third party interference in the GOC congress over 16 months ago, the government had very few options available.
The IOC has essentially told Ghana that the same process that brought the old Ghana Olympic Committee administration to office could not be used to bring the new administration to office.
Three questions the IOC has shied away from answering are (i) Why they rejected the same process that brought the old GOC into being and re-elected them at least twice, (ii) Why they want the new GOC to turn power back to the old GOC that was elected in the same way, and (iii) Why did the old GOC call for Congress even though they knew the various sports association executives had been appointed and not elected, while they knew all along that the IOC did not want to work with appointed executives.
These are three crucial questions that make it clear what is really going on. However, many pundits choose not to address these questions and rather make allusions to shenanigans that were supposed to have taken place during the Congress, and in support of this line of argument they make reference to government agents who were not supposed to be at the Congress, but who attended.
The name that has been mentioned over and over again is that of Nii Lantey Vanderpuije. But, it appears that he had basis for being there in his then-capacity as appointed Chairman of the Weightlifting Association.
Another apparently diversionary tactic is the reference to the fact that President B.T. Baba closed the Congress after it started, suggesting that everything that happened subsequently, including the election of the new officers, should be null and void, despite the election being overseen by the esteemed Electoral Commission of Ghana!
I refer to this as “apparently diversionary” because when the IOC came to town in November, in response to a question about why they had deemed it necessary to sanction Ghana—i.e., whether it was because of the alleged shenanigans, or whether it was because of President Baba who had allegedly closed the congress—they stated clearly that it had nothing to do with any of those reasons.
Their position was that whenever a government appoints association executives who then go forth to GOC congress, they consider that “government interference”. They were emphatic that the issue was as simple as that. In that statement, they conceded that it had nothing to do with any shenanigans, nothing to do with any shredded documents, nothing to do with illegally continuing an officially closed congress, nothing to do with any of these at all. It was simply because we (Ghana) appointed association members as our law then gave the government the authority to.
Again this background, the three crucial questions become very significant. To repeat the third: why would the old GOC call for congress when they knew the associations were appointed not elected as the IOC wanted? What were they trying to do? And if they had won the election, would they have told IOC that the associations were not appointed? That actually raises a question about what they have told the IOC about Ghana’s appointive processes in the past, that is before last June’s fated congress.
So, why did the government not contest the IOC more strongly, given that they allegedly favored the newly elected GOC? Perhaps, the government was afraid of the possible sanctions that pundits in Ghana were always threatening and wanted to please the International body? But in doing so, they sold the sovereign rights of the country on a silver platter to an organisation that deals ruthlessly with anyone who dares lay a hand on “one of its own.”
The decision has come back to hunt them.
HISTORY OF GOC AMPASSE
For those of you who are strangers in Jerusalem, the GOC saga goes like this: The then GOC administration under B.T. Baba sought to prolong their stay in office months after the new government took office in 2009 by calling for congress on 30th June, 2009.
But the then new government saw through the plan and quickly appointed new leaders to the various sports Associations who had the power to elect the new chairman of the GOC.
When the day of congress came, the new appointed leaders of the Associations converged much to the annoyance of B.T. Baba who stormed out of the congress grounds complaining of “third party influence.”
The IOC continues to regard the old administration led by B. T. Baba as the legitimate GOC while the government backs that newly elected Professor Francis Dodoo administration.
THE NUETRALITY OF THE IOC
As the parent body of the GOC, the IOC was expected to act in a neutral manner as ascribed in the Olympic Charter. Perhaps it was with such conviction that President John Evans Atta Mils invited a delegation from the Olympic governing body to the country last year.
Sadly, the IOC’s action has been nothing like the fair play it espouses.
They have clearly taken sides in the impasse choosing to send official communication to the government through the Old GOC administration. Why do I say so? Well, right from the beginning—Congress was on June 30, 2009—in less than two weeks, IOC was already writing letters that based their decision on supposedly clear evidence of egregious interference.
Surely, by then they hadn’t even taken the chance to speak to the “other side” to verify whether what had been reported to them was true or not? So, how did they come to such definitive conclusions about what had happened in Ghana? Since then, the same pattern has continued.
To a question posed by the new GOC (to the IOC) when they met in November 2009 during the IOC’s visit, asking whether they (IOC) would still have come to Ghana if President Baba had won the election and been retained as president (even though the associations were still appointed), they gave themselves away by unwittingly saying “No”, they would not have come.
Now, that raises the question about whether they really did come because of governmental appointments to associations as they themselves said, or whether they came simply to retain B.T. Baba in his position? Remember, that the IOC executives probably consider themselves more likely to get B.T. Baba’s vote when they themselves are up for election, than they are likely to get the vote of someone else they are not familiar with.
It is also noteworthy to point out that similar disputes in the past have been resolved on the continent by International bodies in much more amicable ways.
One that comes to mind is the situation that prevailed at the Ghana Athletics Association last year.
After a dispute arose as to who constituted the leadership of the GAA following the appointment of new officers by the government, the International Association of Athletics Federations maintained a neutral role, refusing to recognize neither the new executives nor the old ones.
They took the principled position that they would only recognise the Secretary General of the organisation and sent all official communications through him until an IAAF backed Congress elected a new leadership for the GAA.
CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS
It must have come as a shock to the IOC when most of the National Sports Associations successfully went to congress and elected leaderships that are recognised by their respective International Federations.
The old executive and their agents made it sound as though these elections were concocted. But, it is the case that not all the old appointed executives won their elections. It is also the case that even people loyal to the old GOC President were able to win elections to become President, with no interference from any corners. A clear example of this is Sahnoon, who won the Presidency of the Cycling Association.
As President Baba’s lawyer, and the man who has represented the old GOC in legal matters, one would have thought that a government contrived election would have precluded him from winning. But, he won and has represented Ghana unfettered as President of Cycling.
Incidentally, it is this same gentleman that B.T. Baba appointed as Chef de Mission for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
SO WHAT DO WE THINK OF WHERE WE ARE NOW?
The current IOC directive to the Ministry of Youth and Sports to review the nation’s sports bill, the SMC Decree 54, before the end of the year or risk sanctions is very mischievous.
Firstly, under the legislative instrument for the SMC Decree 54, there are provisions that allow for democratic elections.
Quote…….The LI talks about the appointment of officers to Amateur Associations. (and doesn’t preclude elections).
PART II-PROFESSIONAL SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS
Regulation 9-Establishment of Professional Sports Associations.
(1) The National Council may cause to be established national professional sports
associations as the National Council may determine.
(2) A national professional sport association shall comprise such number of persons,
appointed to the association in such manner and shall have such functions, as the
National Council may, with the prior approval of the Commissioner, determine.
This was apparently why, despite the law, GFA was able to proceed to Congress in 2005.
The reality though is that apart from the Ghana Amateur Boxing Association, all the other sports Associations allow professional participants to play, and are therefore no longer amateur sports. In the 1980s, the IAAF (then International Amateur Athletics Federation) embraced professionalism and, although retaining the same acronym, became the International Association of Athletic Federations. They dropped the word “Amateur”.
In consonance, the Ghana Amateur Athletics Association (then GAAA), also droped one “A” (for Amateur) to become GAA, now Ghana Athletics Association.
Some of our volleyball and basketball national team players, and perhaps handball too, have played professionally in other countries, but then come back to represent Ghana.
The Ghana Football Association was able to exploit this LI to hold its first democratically elected congress in 2005, not only because the LI does not preclude elections, but also because they argued that many of the football players are professional. Just like for football, in all the other sports except amateur boxing, sportsmen and women can be professional and still come back and play for Ghana or under the auspices of the association.
So now, the Ghana Athletics Association, Ghana Table Tennis Association, Ghana Cricket Association among many others have similarly been to congress to elect their officials. And their respective international federations have ratified their elections.
So where lies in the argument by the IOC that national laws should conform to its Charter? If Ghana has complied by electing the association elections, why is the IOC now making the passage of the Sports Bill a precondition? Where in the regulation of the Olympic Charter is the specific provision that empowers them to demand a law be passed first? And looking back at the November 2009 roadmap, they (IOC) had not made it a precondition. So, are they simply muddying the waters now that their preconditions have been met by the elections and the subsequent ratification by international federations, simply because they want to retain President Baba by all means, or by any means necessary? We have done what they asked us to, now they must do what they promised to and lead B.T. Baba to the table of a new Congress. We are so fortunate that the new GOC has not also insisted on their rights; they could have argued that there need not be a new congress because they were legitimately elected by the laws of Ghana and by the GOC constitution. But, they have accepted to go to Congress. Why must B.T. Baba now hold Ghana sports back by refusing to go to Congress. And should we allow the IOC to help him do that?
Even if the new Sports Law is passed today, it would not annul all the elections that have been held because the Constitution does not allow Laws to operate retrospectively. Besides, the new executives, ratified by their international federations, have received a mandate for a certain number of years, and passing the sports bill cannot undo that. So, those people hoping that once the sports law is passed, they can argue that it is only then becoming legitimate to hold the association elections (because they want to erase the association congresses that have been held) cannot prevail. This is about sports, so they should do the sporting thing and concede this very costly strife that Ghana is suffering and simply go to Congress now. Ghana cannot continue to limp around in sports, and they are doing Ghana a big disservice in their selfish interests.
The ramifications are quite clear if Congress is called then.
But the fact still remains that Ghana has to amend its sports Law. That issue is primarily a national issue and the IOC must be fair.
Is the IOC saying its entire member Associations have modern sports Laws? The answer is quite obvious because many African nations are yet to upgrade their national laws to reflect current realities. Why is Ghana being made a scape goat then?
Having followed this story closely for the past sixteen months, I’m still intrigued to find out the answer to that question. Veteran journalist Kwabena Yeboah had the perfect answer in his article: Baba must prove his critics wrong which was published on Monday, August 23rd.
“You don’t need to overstretch your imagination to appreciate the I.O.C.’s bias. Determined to protect their overbearing influence in the world of sports, the I.O.C. jealously protects their “own” and fiercely rejects any governmental involvement, one they prefer to call “interference”.”
CONCLUSION
The current situation can be likened to an A-Level certificate holder who was asked by a University to acquire an SSCE Certificate before gaining admission.
However, when he sat for the WASSCE exam and acquired the Certificate, the University then told him that it was necessary for him to have gone back to SS1 and attended for the number of requisite years first. . The goalposts are shifting and the IOC only has one person’s interests at heart.
But you might want to ask who asked Ghana to assume the role of a student?
Such is life. If you fail to sort out your own affairs and allow an external force to dictate to you, then you are bound by their rules. Oh Ghana, why must we suffer so?
One thing is for sure, Ghana is not ready to pass the New Sports Bill into Law before the end of the year.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports is yet to make attempts to get the bill into Parliament under a certificate of urgency.
In retrospect, the Sports authorities should have re-drawn from the IOC, the minute the IOC asked for those recommendations.
The Clock is ticking…tick tock tick tock.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Ghana Football Association’s House of Cards: Dealing with Corruption
The President of Fifa Sepp Blatter says he wants to set up an anti-corruption committee to police the world football governing body.
Mr. Blatter would have us believe that he wants to lead us into "a new age of transparency" at Fifa following the recent furor over the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 world cups, respectively.
The Fifa boss was speaking to a Swiss newspaper SonntagsZeitung as he continues his campaign to defend the football governing body after receiving a strong public back lash.
The pessimist will still consider the move as another attempt to throw dust into the eyes of the world, and would wait for further clarifications on the powers and objectives of the new anti corruption body.
The fact remains though that Fifa is looking at having an internal mechanism to investigate corruption within its own corridors after a major storm.
Given the perceptions of corruption that hound the Ghana Football Association, will they take a leaf from what the Fifa boss is proposing in order to eradicate such concerns?
The Ghana Situation
Ghana Football seems to be slowing recovering from the shock of the raid on its offices by the Economic and Organised Crimes Office (EOCO) late last year.
For neutrals, news about the visit of the President of the Ghana Football Association Kwesi Nyantakyi and his General Secretary Kofi Nsiah to the EOCO office last week came as a welcome relief.
The meeting confirmed earlier reports from the corridors of power that the two bodies had started engaging in healthy discussions after the infamous raid on the GFA’s headquarters on the 8th of December, 2010.
A New Year bonus! Yes, and this might just signify a thawing of relations between the two bodies, at least hopefully.
The people of Ghana and the world at large can only wait with baited breath to see what the final outcome of the investigation will be into alleged breaches of the nation’s tax and financial laws.
But wait a minute, let’s not count our chicks before they hatch, because it will be better to look at the bigger issue of corruption in Ghana Football and see whether the FA’s internal mechanism for checking the canker is actually working.
Ketu Stars Petition to GFA
The Owner of Ketu Stars Abdul Kadiri Aleru on 25th November, 2010 petitioned the Ghana Football Association to investigate the alleged “rot in the running of the game in our great Volta Region by the Regional Football Association (VRFA).”
The Petitioner is asking for the accounts of the Regional Football Association to be audited since according to him the RFA has never presented audited accounts for the past nine years, in breach of the GFA’s statues.
According to Abdul Kadiri, an attempt by the RFA to pass a “bogus” account at the Associations last Congress on 4th November, 2010 was rejected by members of congress.
The petitioner, it seems, is alarmed at the lack of sports development in the region especially football.
When contacted, the chairman of the Volta Regional Football Association Francis Dogbatse admitted that his outfit has not been able to present audited accounts since 2001 due to the high cost of auditing.
Mr. Dogbatse, who got re-elected as RFA boss in 2005, claims that the last Congress accepted the accounts of the Association on condition that subsequent accounts will be audited.
“The past has been wronged but congress decided to let this one go and subsequently try to rectify it,” he said.
It is noteworthy that the under the GFA statutes, Article 49.5 says an RFA “ shall hold Annual Congress of representatives of its constituent members to receive and consider among other matters, reports of the Regional Executive Committee including audited financial statements.
The Volta Regional Football Association situation might not be an isolated case at all because there have been other reported cases like that in the recent past, for instance in the Eastern Region.
The petitioner Abdul Kadiri Aleru has copied his petition to the Economic and Organised Crimes Office as well as the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
GFA’S ANTI CORRUPTION AGENCIES
So are the FA’s internal anti corruption processes full- proof?
There is no direct answer to the question posed above.
Firstly, under Article 38 of the FA statues the FA’s judicial organs comprise the Disciplinary Committee and the Appeals Committee.
Article 42 gives the Dispute Resolution Committee the power to resolve internal disputes while the International Court of Arbitration for Sports is recognised as an independent judicial authority whose decision the FA respects.
Members of the football family however have the right to call for an emergency congress where necessary to discuss issues such as corruption when the need arises.
The FA’s accounts are similarly audited at the end of each accounting year to allow for proper scrutiny of how monies are spent at the local football governing body.
It would seem that the FA judicial machinery is well- positioned to deal with most of the issues at hand.
Weaknesses
But, all is not well at the GFA despite the existence of the above structures.
The management letter on the accounts of the FA between for the period 2007-2009 did recognise that there are weak financial controls at the FA.
For instance, it had to take the direct intervention of the auditor for unaccounted imprest to be returned to chest despite earlier memos to that effect by the accounts department of the FA.
It is possible that an anti- corruption unit can notice these flaws and apply the right measures to rectify them before the accounting period ends.
Division league clubs nearly boycotted the league over the slow pace of the disciplinary committee in coming out with a verdict on the bribery case involving center referee Musa Yahaya who was caught in the act with GH 2,000 in his socks during a game last season.
The clubs smelt a rat as to the reason why the case is yet to have been heard.
Again there could be a special role for an anti to check bribery in the domestic league.
Several allegations about alleged corruption in the local premier league by club administrators in the past have not investigated because of the difficulty involved in getting hard evidence to substantiate the claims.
There is no telling when such allegations will seize but they go a long way in informing the perception about corruption in football.
To sum up, having an anti- corruption unit itself might not necessarily solve all the problems bedeviling our football, but the role such a body would play is very crucial.
Is Kwesi Nyantakyi going to call for the formation of an anti corruption Unit? I’m not so sure about that, but it surely would send a great message to the football fraternity if they were to do so.
Freelance Journalist Erasmus Kwaw.
ghanabusinessnews.com
http://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2011/01/09/dealing-with-corruption-in-ghana-football-an-urgent-need/
ghanaweb.com:
http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/artikel.php?ID=201021&comment=0#com
Mr. Blatter would have us believe that he wants to lead us into "a new age of transparency" at Fifa following the recent furor over the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 world cups, respectively.
The Fifa boss was speaking to a Swiss newspaper SonntagsZeitung as he continues his campaign to defend the football governing body after receiving a strong public back lash.
The pessimist will still consider the move as another attempt to throw dust into the eyes of the world, and would wait for further clarifications on the powers and objectives of the new anti corruption body.
The fact remains though that Fifa is looking at having an internal mechanism to investigate corruption within its own corridors after a major storm.
Given the perceptions of corruption that hound the Ghana Football Association, will they take a leaf from what the Fifa boss is proposing in order to eradicate such concerns?
The Ghana Situation
Ghana Football seems to be slowing recovering from the shock of the raid on its offices by the Economic and Organised Crimes Office (EOCO) late last year.
For neutrals, news about the visit of the President of the Ghana Football Association Kwesi Nyantakyi and his General Secretary Kofi Nsiah to the EOCO office last week came as a welcome relief.
The meeting confirmed earlier reports from the corridors of power that the two bodies had started engaging in healthy discussions after the infamous raid on the GFA’s headquarters on the 8th of December, 2010.
A New Year bonus! Yes, and this might just signify a thawing of relations between the two bodies, at least hopefully.
The people of Ghana and the world at large can only wait with baited breath to see what the final outcome of the investigation will be into alleged breaches of the nation’s tax and financial laws.
But wait a minute, let’s not count our chicks before they hatch, because it will be better to look at the bigger issue of corruption in Ghana Football and see whether the FA’s internal mechanism for checking the canker is actually working.
Ketu Stars Petition to GFA
The Owner of Ketu Stars Abdul Kadiri Aleru on 25th November, 2010 petitioned the Ghana Football Association to investigate the alleged “rot in the running of the game in our great Volta Region by the Regional Football Association (VRFA).”
The Petitioner is asking for the accounts of the Regional Football Association to be audited since according to him the RFA has never presented audited accounts for the past nine years, in breach of the GFA’s statues.
According to Abdul Kadiri, an attempt by the RFA to pass a “bogus” account at the Associations last Congress on 4th November, 2010 was rejected by members of congress.
The petitioner, it seems, is alarmed at the lack of sports development in the region especially football.
When contacted, the chairman of the Volta Regional Football Association Francis Dogbatse admitted that his outfit has not been able to present audited accounts since 2001 due to the high cost of auditing.
Mr. Dogbatse, who got re-elected as RFA boss in 2005, claims that the last Congress accepted the accounts of the Association on condition that subsequent accounts will be audited.
“The past has been wronged but congress decided to let this one go and subsequently try to rectify it,” he said.
It is noteworthy that the under the GFA statutes, Article 49.5 says an RFA “ shall hold Annual Congress of representatives of its constituent members to receive and consider among other matters, reports of the Regional Executive Committee including audited financial statements.
The Volta Regional Football Association situation might not be an isolated case at all because there have been other reported cases like that in the recent past, for instance in the Eastern Region.
The petitioner Abdul Kadiri Aleru has copied his petition to the Economic and Organised Crimes Office as well as the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
GFA’S ANTI CORRUPTION AGENCIES
So are the FA’s internal anti corruption processes full- proof?
There is no direct answer to the question posed above.
Firstly, under Article 38 of the FA statues the FA’s judicial organs comprise the Disciplinary Committee and the Appeals Committee.
Article 42 gives the Dispute Resolution Committee the power to resolve internal disputes while the International Court of Arbitration for Sports is recognised as an independent judicial authority whose decision the FA respects.
Members of the football family however have the right to call for an emergency congress where necessary to discuss issues such as corruption when the need arises.
The FA’s accounts are similarly audited at the end of each accounting year to allow for proper scrutiny of how monies are spent at the local football governing body.
It would seem that the FA judicial machinery is well- positioned to deal with most of the issues at hand.
Weaknesses
But, all is not well at the GFA despite the existence of the above structures.
The management letter on the accounts of the FA between for the period 2007-2009 did recognise that there are weak financial controls at the FA.
For instance, it had to take the direct intervention of the auditor for unaccounted imprest to be returned to chest despite earlier memos to that effect by the accounts department of the FA.
It is possible that an anti- corruption unit can notice these flaws and apply the right measures to rectify them before the accounting period ends.
Division league clubs nearly boycotted the league over the slow pace of the disciplinary committee in coming out with a verdict on the bribery case involving center referee Musa Yahaya who was caught in the act with GH 2,000 in his socks during a game last season.
The clubs smelt a rat as to the reason why the case is yet to have been heard.
Again there could be a special role for an anti to check bribery in the domestic league.
Several allegations about alleged corruption in the local premier league by club administrators in the past have not investigated because of the difficulty involved in getting hard evidence to substantiate the claims.
There is no telling when such allegations will seize but they go a long way in informing the perception about corruption in football.
To sum up, having an anti- corruption unit itself might not necessarily solve all the problems bedeviling our football, but the role such a body would play is very crucial.
Is Kwesi Nyantakyi going to call for the formation of an anti corruption Unit? I’m not so sure about that, but it surely would send a great message to the football fraternity if they were to do so.
Freelance Journalist Erasmus Kwaw.
ghanabusinessnews.com
http://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2011/01/09/dealing-with-corruption-in-ghana-football-an-urgent-need/
ghanaweb.com:
http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/artikel.php?ID=201021&comment=0#com
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