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News that the Technical Team which superbly navigated Ghana’s path to the Qatar 2022 World Cup tournament, will still be in charge of the forthcoming Mundial, is worth celebrating.
It is one that disciples of Ghana football will hail for many days to come.
Spearheaded by Otto Addo and a formidable backroom staff made up of George Boateng, Mas-udDidiDramani, the team masterminded Black Stars’ triumph over their age-long rivals – Nigeria’s Super Eagles, via the away goal rule.
The game’s crucial first leg play-off at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi had ended in a heart-pumping goalless stalemate – an upshot that sent tongues wagging in blissful discord.
Indeed, many had thrown hands up in dispair, predicting doom for the Stars in the return encounter in the capital Abuja, especially when the game was going to be held at a stadium that takes more than 80,000 fans, double the size of the Baba Yara Stadium.
The stadium was filled to the brim. It was already known it was going to be so. Not surprising at all.
To cut a known long story short, tactical shrewdness from Ghana’s Technical Team blew off Nigeria’s overzealous, embarrassingly rich armada.
Though they dominated exchanges, it had to take Nigeria a contentious spot-kick to efface Thomas Partey’s 12th minute strike, finishing the gut-wrenching evening 1-1.
Nigeria mourned! The fans gnashed their teeth in rage. And, the players wept uncontrollably back in their dressing room.
A different story lit up the nation as many cartwheeled in celebration at the final signal from the Tunisian referee. Ghanaians, especially, the ‘Doubting Thomases’ remained shocked.
But one thing that everybody did was to praise the tactical depth of the Otto Addo-led team, believing they have something spectacular up their sleeve to turn the fortunes of the Black Stars around in the November 2022 World Cup.
And, suddenly, everyone is calling for the Technical Team to be retained.
You remember how they (technical team) doggedly refused to ‘unmask’ their squad ahead of the cracker in Kumasi? Those who criticised that unpopular decision would later gild their lily.
The good thing is that the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has elicited a positive response from Bundesliga side Dortmund, employers of Otto Addo – the Germany team agreeing to release their Scout and Assistant Coach for the World Cup and other engagements.
Otto Addo, it was agreed, would be on the touchline when the Black Stars host Madagascar in a 2023 Nations Cup qualifier in June (next month) at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium.
The GFA is also in talks with the other backroom staff and their employers to get them aboard – and from all indications, the coast is almost clear for an encore.
What the Technical Team and the players need now is the consummate backing from Ghanaians. It is important.
However, we shall not sit aloof if they get it wrong, especially with new call-ups into the national team. Every player must be worth their weight in gold.
By John Vigah
African leaders have been urged to strengthen political commitment and domestic investment to end preventable maternal deaths and AIDS by 2030.
The call comes as African health ministers and policymakers meet in Accra to deliberate on health financing, health security and universal health coverage across the continent.
Mr Edouard Bizimana, Burundi’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and Development Cooperation, made the call on Tuesday at the opening of the African Union’s (AU) 25th Extraordinary Summit on Health in Accra.
He said Africa needed increased domestic investment to build resilient health systems as it continued to grapple with infectious diseases and the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Mr Bizimana, who is also Chairperson of the AU Executive Council, said although Africa accounted for nearly 17 per cent of the world’s population, it bore 24 per cent of the global disease burden while having less than three per cent of the global health workforce and only one per cent of global health expenditure.
“Despite maternal mortality declining by nearly 40 per cent since 2000, Africa still accounts for about 70 per cent of maternal deaths globally, while almost two-thirds of people living with HIV reside on the continent,” he said.
Mr Bizimana said the growing burden of NCDs was placing additional pressure on already stretched health systems.
“These figures are not merely statistics. They represent painful human realities, preventable losses and unacceptable inequalities, they remind us that health is not an expense it is a strategic investment and a prerequisite for our sovereignty and development. “he said.
Mr Bizimana said recent global health emergencies had exposed Africa’s vulnerability and underscored the need to expand local production of medicines and vaccines, strengthen the health workforce and improve emergency preparedness.
“Our citizens expect resilient health systems where every mother can give birth safely, every child has access to essential healthcare and every African enjoys quality health services regardless of where they live,” he said.
The two-day summit, being held ahead of the 20th Extraordinary Session of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government, has brought together health ministers, policymakers and health stakeholders to identify solutions to Africa’s health financing and security challenges.
Madam Florence Samizi, Tanzania’s Deputy Health Minister, called for stronger collaboration among AU Member States to accelerate progress towards universal health coverage.
The summit is being held on the theme: “Advancing Justice, Equality and Universal Health Coverage: Ending AIDS, Tuberculosis, Improving Maternal Health, Addressing Endemic Non-Communicable and Neglected Tropical Diseases in Africa.”
The meeting is expected to adopt the Accra Declaration, a roadmap to strengthen Africa’s health systems and advance health sovereignty by 2030. -GNA
Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana’s Department of Political Science, Dr. Joshua Jebuntie Zaato says the imprisonment of the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, will have little meaning unless it leads to a broader crackdown on illegal mining.
In a post on his Facebook page on the July 21, 2026, Dr. Zaato said the judgment should mark the beginning of efforts to completely eradicate galamsey and hold all those involved accountable, regardless of their political affiliation.
He said the country must work towards restoring polluted rivers, protecting forests and ensuring that people implicated in illegal mining activities are prosecuted.
According to him, those the President has publicly acknowledged to be involved in galamsey should face prosecution.
He called for the prosecution of district chief executives (DCEs), members of Parliament (MPs) and senior political party officials who have been accused of engaging in or supporting illegal mining.
Dr. Zaato further urged the government to take decisive action to end the destruction of the country’s forests caused by galamsey.
He maintained that the imprisonment of Chairman Wontumi would only have a lasting impact if it results in a comprehensive and impartial fight against illegal mining across the country.
By: Jacob Aggrey
