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Dede Ayew wins highest award at 2022 Calcio Trade Ball
It was a night of absolute bliss, glamour and class at the Calcio Trade Ball event by the football talent agency group ArthurLegacy when it held the 4th edition in Accra last Saturday.
An annual event by the leading African football agency company, this year’s event was held at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City, Accra and brought together some of the continent’s biggest names in football, government officials and the diplomatic and corporate communities.
This year’s event underscored the unique partnership between the ArthurLegacy brand and the Italian Embassy in Accra and how both parties have over the years worked to ensure a seamless facilitation of special Ghana-Italy trade ties using football as a tool.
Addressing the gathering, the Italian Ambassador to Ghana, HE. Daniela d’ Orlandi said Italy’s place in Ghanaian football history was one that truly inspired and laid a foundation that kept yielding fruits.
The Italian government she added, found in ArthurLegacy a strategic partner that had over the years executed this flawlessly and looked forward to more of such.
Reechoing her sentiments, a longtime associate of ArthurLegacy, Madam Ama Bawuah called on the corporate community to open its doors to the brand, suggesting the football economy is one every country needed to complement its growth.
Founder of ArthurLegacy, Oliver Arthur also said his organisation would continue to invest in the game to give opportunities to young talents while General Manager of ArthurLegacy, Kathleen Arthur, reiterated the successes of the brand and how it carried with it the dreams of many families.
“Because of what we do and do so well, the lives of these players and their families are shaped in ways unimaginable and for us that is the bigger satisfaction we get.
“In the next 10 years, we want to still help make the dreams and aspirations of these footballers come to pass. We want to be the reason some of these players never gave up in life. Ghana has a large pool of talents and ArthurLegacy is going to be ever present in that ecosystem,” she said.
This year’s Calcio Trade Ball (CTB) saw Black Stars captain Andre Dede Ayew win the topmost award CTB Order of the Star. Andre commended ArthurLegacy and the Italian Embassy for the initiative, calling on others to help provide the avenue for more football talents from Ghana.
Other winners include, Sully Ali Muntari – Lifetime Achievement Award,Franck Yannick Kessié – Serie A African Player of the Year ,Edmund Addo – ArthurLegacy Player of the Year, Felix Afena-Gyan – Most Promising Footballer, Alhaji Grunsah – Special Recognition (Football Development)
Started in 2016, it is held under the auspices of the Embassy of Italy in Ghana and ArthurLegacy. The event celebrates the contribution of Italy to the development of Ghana football and promotes Ghana-Italy cultural relations.
Founded in 2013 by Oliver Arthur, one of Ghana’s leading football agents, ArthurLegacy Sports provides end-to-end training and management of young gifted African football talents.
As of July 2019, the agency has brokered over 50 direct and indirect deals for African football players from diverse backgrounds, ethnicity and culture.
By Spectator Reporter
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Confrontation with Police over unauthorised parking: Mayor of Accra apologises
The Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, has apologised to the Police following an incident involving an officer from the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), stressing that his actions were not targeted at the police but were intended to ensure compliance with city regulations.
Speaking to journalists on his usual monitoring exercise of the ongoing decongestion exercise, the Mayor said he returned to the same location where the confrontation occurred to demonstrate that enforcement was impartial and continuous to ensure a city where vehicles and pedestrians could move freely. 
“You can see, today I’m back here again to the same place where the incident happened,” he stated explaining that the disagreement arose because the officer in question was allegedly allowing drivers to park and load passengers at unauthorised locations within the Central Business District.
According to him, such practices undermined the Assembly’s efforts to maintain order and reduce congestion.
“The police officer was not doing the right thing, and the people are still here today because of that,” he remarked, gesturing to clamped vehicles lined along the roadside.
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Prof. Dodoo named ARSO President Emeritus
The African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) has unanimously conferred Professor Alex Dodoo with the honorary title of President Emeritus following resolutions by both its executive council and general assembly.
The decision, which was taken during the 31st General Assembly of ARSO in Zanzibar, Tanzania, last Friday, recognised Prof. Dodoo’s exceptional leadership in advancing continental standards for trade, safety and sustainable development.
The resolution ensured his continued advisory role in the strategic direction of ARSO while mentoring future standardisation leaders across Africa.
The Secretary-General of ARSO, Dr Hemogene Nsengimana, said the title of President Emeritus was reserved for leaders whose impact transcended their tenure, reflecting lifelong dedication to their field.
Excellence
As immediate past ARSO President and Director-General of the Ghana Standards Authority, Prof. Dodoo spearheaded the creation of critical structures within ARSO and influenced harmonisation initiatives supporting the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Professor Dodoo, an expert in pharmaceuticals, public health, and standards regulation, has played a pivotal role in shaping the standardisation landscape of Africa.
Under his leadership, ARSO saw effective collaboration among member states culminating in the general assembly this year, and bringing together a record 34 countries, the highest in the history of the organisation.
The advocacy of Professor Dodoo for “One Standard, One Test, One Acceptance” across Africa has been instrumental in reducing technical barriers to trade and fostering economic integration.
In his new role, Professor Dodoo would continue to provide strategic guidance to ARSO, mentor emerging leaders in standardisation, and champion the voice of Africa in global standards bodies such as the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Professor Dodoo, in his acceptance remark, said, “This honour is not just a personal milestone but shows the collective efforts of all stakeholders working toward a standardised, competitive, and quality-driven Africa.”
He said, “Our journey is far from over, and I remain committed to the vision of an Africa where standards fuel prosperity.”
As President Emeritus, Professor Dodoo is expected to focus on critical areas such as strengthening Africa’s quality infrastructure, advocating for standards in emerging sectors such as renewable energy and digital economies and bridging the gap between academia, industry, and policymakers in standardisation.
Competence
The Executive Director of the Standards Division at the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), Dr Sadhvir Bissoon, said Prof. Dodoo had contributed towards the leadership of the ARSO Council in driving strategy, governance, “reviewing our laws and statutes and ensuring their implementation”.
“I hope he will still serve the needs and aspirations of ARSO in his new role,” he said in an interview with the Daily Graphic.
Private sector leaders who attended the event also lauded Professor Dodoo’s efforts to align African standards with global best practices.
The Regional Director of COTECNA, a key partner in the continental standards community, Antoine Anne, for his part, said the appointment of Professor Dodoo reaffirmed the commitment of the African continent to excellence.
Source: Graphic.com.gh
