Hot!
FA elections brouhaha
• Kurt Okraku
Campaign for the impending elections of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), has roared off in earnest amid fire-spitting of venomous ‘verbiage’ across board.
The quadrennial elections is tentatively slated for October, this year, but no specific date has been determined for that purpose yet – at least, as of the time of putting this piece together.
The GFA, which is responsible for setting the parameters – or better still, roadmap for the much-heralded event, is yet to come clear on it – causing lots of agitation and apprehension amongst members of the opposite camp.
“I don’t know whether the elections is coming up this year. And I’ve not started to think about elections yet,” Kurt told SuperSport recently.
“I react to the mood of the people. What I will do is to react exactly to the way the people want.”
Could it be a strategy of paralysis or psychological warfare? Maybe, yes – maybe, no.
Predictably, this year’s elections may be going down as one of the most acrimonious and fiercely-held engagements to elect the man to steer the future of Ghana football for the next four years.
The incumbent – Kurt Edwin Simon Okraku, is seeking re-election after succeeding Kwesi Nyantakyi in 2019.
The October election of Okraku gave birth to the refrain: Bringing back the love for the game – coming on the heels of the Anas exposé on football corruption in Ghana.
Truth is, the ‘Bringing back the love’ mantra almost pulled the trick as thousands were vigorously enamoured by it.
This was seen in the massive support Ghanaians offered the Black Stars on their way to Qatar 2022 World Cup qualification – though the team failed to progress beyond the opening round in the campaign. One could describe it as a bitter-sweet achievement for the Kurt administration.
There were also damning series of first round exits. In the last couple of months, Ghana has failed to qualify for the Under-17 and Under-20 AFCON – though we were defending champions in the latter. We were also bowled out at the group stage during the AFCON 2021 tournament – and even though we swaggered out way to the Championship of African Nations (CHAN), we got booted out in the group stages. Only last year, we were shown the door in the first round of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar!
However, albeit he has come against an avalanche of criticism for the aforementioned fiascos, the incumbent FA President insists he is steadily building a strong foundation for Ghana football – also pointing to the Catch-Them-Young Referee policy that is expected to produce a sturdily steady flow of the Knights-of-the-Whistle across the continent.
It seems to many that Ghanaians are not really concerned too much about the future; what they need now is the result! No patience to wait, it appears to be!
The recent capitulation of the Black Meteors in the just-ended AFCON Under-23 tournament in Morocco, culminating in the team’s failure to grab a ticket to the Paris 2024 Games, seems to have pumped further weight on Kurt whose opponents accuse his administration of corruption and poor leadership.
Indeed, Alhaji Karim Grusah – a member of the GFA Executive Committee, has badgered on the FA – accusing it of corruption – allegation that has not been responded to. Perhaps, at the appropriate time, the FA hierarchy would react to clear their image.
Certainly, opponents of Kurt would fancy these developments – hoping to ride home the damage to victory.
Strappingly contesting Kurt for his seat is the former Vice President of the GFA, George Afriyie, who lost to the incumbent in the final round of the 2019 elections.
Others vying for the top post are Kojo Yankah, the former chairman of the Western Regional Football Association and the bankroller of Berekum Chelsea, Bernard Nana Yaw Amofa Jantuah
Clearly, this year’s elections will be contested with ruthless intensity – and the coming days should generate an amperage of interest all the way to October.
At the end of the day, it is the hope and expectation of many that Ghana football would emerge the winner.
Ghana’s First Lady, Lordina Mahama, has made a generous donation to the country’s national female Under-17 and Under-20 teams – Black Maidens and Black Princesses- as they continue preparations for major international assignments.
The donation, made on Friday, May 22, was presented on behalf of the First Lady by the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, at the GFA Technical Centre in Prampram.
The gesture forms part of efforts to motivate and support Ghana’s young female footballers as they prepare to represent the country on the international stage.
The donation included essential food items and toiletries aimed at supporting the welfare and well-being of the players and technical teams.
The donation included cartons of Milo, T-rolls, soft drinks, toiletries, and a range of essential supplies aimed at supporting the welfare of the players, enhancing camp conditions, and easing preparations ahead of their respective assignments.
The Black Maidens are currently engaged in preparations for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers and are set to take on Liberia women’s national under-17 football team in the second-leg encounter in Liberia this weekend.
Meanwhile, the Black Princesses have already secured qualification to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup after overcoming Uganda in the qualifiers, extending Ghana’s remarkable record to eight consecutive appearances at the tournament.
The donation by the First Lady was expected to boost morale within both camps while reinforcing national support for the young female footballers who continue to make the country proud.
The prosecution has officially rested its case in The Republic v Solomon Asamoah & Another, the high-profile legal battle commonly referred to as the “Sky Train” case.
The Deputy Attorney General Justice Srem Sai announced the development, praising the state’s team of hard-working prosecutors for successfully anchoring the state’s evidence before the High Court.
The criminal trial centers on the former Chief Executive Officer and the former Board Chairman of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF).
The duo stands accused of illegally authorizing and paying out US$2 million to a foreign company without obtaining board directives or other mandatory statutory approvals.
State investigators have confirmed that the disbursed millions cannot be found.
Following the closure of the prosecution’s case, the accused persons moved the court for an opportunity to file a submission of no case.
The presiding judge granted the application, ordering the defense to submit their arguments by June 8.
The outcome of the June 8 filings will decide the fate of the trial:
With this, if the judge finds the defense’s submission convincing, the accused will be acquitted and discharged however, If the judge dismisses the submission, the court will order the accused officials to take the stand and explain why they should not face prison sentences.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
