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Are we serious about World Cup play-off …against Nigeria?
A Ghana v Nigeria game is a mammoth engagement any time, any day. There is no shred of doubt about this assertion.
It could be a mere friendly, yet, you can trust any Black Stars-Super Eagles game to be contested with all the verve and venom they can muster and spit out at each other.
Indeed, there have been several battles between the two Gullivers of the continental game, and each time, it was fought with unfathomable energy and passion. It does not really matter what was at stake. And, such games have attracted the cynosure of all eyes, too.
Ghana has managed to establish a stranglehold on Nigeria. In the 56 times that they have met, the Stars beamed away with 25 wins as compared to Nigeria’s 12.
That sounds great, right. However, with the current form of Nigeria – per what they advertised at the just-ended Cameroon AFCON, it would take something extraordinary to crack them in our next meeting. While the Super Eagles lost to Tunisia at the last-16 stage, Ghana were shock first-round casualties, finishing rock-bottom of Group C with just a point, after a stunning 3-2 loss to minnows Comoros.
The Eagles are seeking to qualify for the World Cup a seventh time and, since 1994, have missed only one of seven editions. The last of three appearances by Ghana was in Brazil 2014.
Indeed, the Super Eagles have been itching to punish the Stars in a manner that the four-time African champions and World Cup quarter-finalists would never forget. It is not about enacting revenge; it is about getting the bragging rights over a country that has been a thorn in their flesh since the mid-50s till now. You remember the ego-shattering 7-0 white-washing the Eagles suffered at the ‘sadistic’ hands of the Stars in 1955?
Aside the bragging rights, next month’s World Cup play-off has a lot at stake as the Super Eagles are eager to make the cut to Qatar in order to placate livid Nigerians whose dream of a fourth Nations Cup coronation ended at the round of 16 stage in the just-ended Cameroon AFCON. To secure that berth, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has appointed former national star Emmanuel Amunike as chief coach of the Eagles and charged together with the Technical Director Augustine Eguavoen to secure qualification for the 2022 World Cup, which is expected to roar off in November.
Clearly, Nigeria seems to be approaching the Ghana game with some level of seriousness and urgency as compared to their Ghanaian counterparts, having put together their technical team earlier. They are not taking anything for granted at all, in spite of their relatively bravura performance in the Cameroon AFCON.
Qualifying for a mammoth tournament as the World Cup involves a lot of strategic planning and focus. That is what we expect from Ghana, especially with regard to putting together a formidable Technical Team to surmount the Himalayan task ahead.
Well, as of press time (Wednesday), a whispering from a bird pointed to advanced arrangement by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to settle on former Newcastle United manager, Chris Hughton – an idol of the government, as permanent coach of the Black Stars. For now, he would act in Technical Director capacity, whilst FA favourite and Borussia Dortmund’s Assistant Coach Otto Addo, assume temporary charge of the team for the World Cup play-off with Nigeria.
It is said whatever the upshot of the play-off, the 63-year-old Hughton, an Irish with a Ghanaian mum, would become the substantive trainer of the Stars. Smart move! Clearly, if he was appointed the head coach now and failed in his bid to qualify the Stars to Qatar, Ghanaians would descend on him call for his head – and that could affect his future with the senior national team.
Let us pray for the Black Stars and hope the authorities get it right this time around. We have got to be serious and work with ruthless intensity towards the Nigerian game – especially as regards the call-ups we make ahead of that ferocious adventure.
By John Vigah
Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, says more than 15,000 Ghanaian workers have lost their jobs following a directive issued by the Chief of Staff.
According to him, the dismissals affected not only people employed after the 2024 general elections, as stated in the directive, but also workers who had been lawfully employed as far back as 2017.
Raising the issue on the floor of Parliament, Mr. Afenyo-Markin said the Minority uncovered evidence showing serious excesses in the implementation of the directive.
“We became aware that although the letter was specific to those recruited after the 2024 elections, Ghanaian youth who were employed as far back as 2017 were all dismissed from their lawful employment,” he said.
He explained that the Minority filed a motion in Parliament to investigate the matter, which was admitted by the Speaker. However, the process has faced several delays.
According to him, the Majority Leader raised a preliminary objection to the motion, which was upheld by the First Deputy Speaker. The Minority later filed a motion for review under the rules of Parliament, which was also admitted.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin said the review motion was moved by him and seconded by the Member of Parliament for Ofoasi- Ayirebi, while the Majority Chief Whip, Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor , began the debate on behalf of the Majority side.
He noted that the House was expected to continue the debate the following Tuesday to allow the Speaker to rule on the matter, but this has not happened due to other parliamentary business.
“Several times the motion appeared on the Order Paper, but we could not take it,” he stated.
The Minority Leader stressed that the delay is having serious consequences for affected workers and their families.
“This is a matter that affects the livelihood of Ghanaians. We have in excess of 15,000 Ghanaian youths affected by this directive, and they are still at home,” he said.
He added that the Minister for Employment has acknowledged receiving petitions on the issue and has initiated investigations, but said that should not stop Parliament from carrying out its own inquiry.
“These Ghanaian youths are sitting at home. Their wives, their extended families are all affected. It has been over a year, and they are not getting any justice,” he added.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin appealed to the Leader of Government Business to ensure that the motion is included in Parliament’s report and debated to allow the House to make a final decision on the matter.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Director of Communications for the United Party, Solomon Owusu, has expressed strong disappointment following the Supreme Court decision to quash the rerun of the Kpandai parliamentary election.
Mr Owusu made his views known while reacting to the ruling, stressing that he would feel deeply disappointed if he were in the position of Matthew Nyindam, the current Member of Parliament for Kpandai.
He explained that the High Court had earlier examined the case in detail and arrived at a clear determination on the matter.
According to him, the High Court found that the election was compromised and that rigging took place with the involvement of the Electoral Commission.
Mr Owusu pointed out that when the New Patriotic Party moved the case to the Supreme Court, it did not challenge the substance of the High Court findings.
He stated that the appeal was based purely on a point of law, arguing that the National Democratic Congress was time barred when it went to court, and not that the alleged rigging did not occur.
In his view, this means that Mr Nyindam remains in Parliament through an election process that did not reflect the true will of the people of Kpandai.
Mr Owusu noted that this was why he had expected a rerun of the election, to allow the MP to return to the constituency and properly establish his authority through the ballot.
He explained that a rerun would have given Mr Nyindam the opportunity to prove that he genuinely won the 2024 parliamentary election.
With the rerun now quashed, Mr Owusu questioned how the MP could celebrate or take pride in the court outcome.
He stressed that he would no longer take contributions made by Mr Nyindam in Parliament seriously, as the legitimacy of his mandate remains questionable in his view.
Mr Owusu further argued that the Supreme Court decision has shortchanged the people of Kpandai.
He described the ruling as unfair to voters who woke up early on election day, queued patiently, and voted for a candidate of their choice, only for their will to be undermined.
According to him, the outcome raises serious concerns about justice, electoral credibility, and respect for the democratic rights of the people.
By: Jacob Aggrey
