Hot!
Heed to Ogum’s call for unity
Dr Prosper Narteh Ogum
In a little over a month, the 2023/24 Ghana Premier League (GPL) will kick off at various centres.
Preparations towards the big kick off has seen a number of clubs getting busy with pre-season activities, ranging from player recruitment, signing new coaches, engaging in friendly matches among others, all in a bid to strengthen the teams for another long season.
The objectives, however, varies from one club to the other; reflecting in the pre-season activities the clubs are engaged in.
New entrants like Tano Bofoakwa, Nations FC and Kpando Heart of Lions would just not be aiming to strengthen the squads to cope with the challenges at the elite level.
They would also be preoccupied with ensuring that they have very good and competent technical teams to guide them through the Premier League storm.
As a result, Real Bofo, as Bofoakwa is affectionately known, has signed on a former Ghana international and Asante Kotoko legend, Frimpong Manso; Nations FC, seen as King Faisal’s replacement after their relegation in the last season, also brought on board Kasim Ocansey Mingle to reinforce the technical bench.
But the issue regarding coaching has not just been a concern for the promoted clubs. Traditional clubs including Hearts of Oak, Asante Kotoko and Great Olympics are all walking on similar paths.
While Hearts are expected to announce a substantive Gaffer for the season, Kotoko and Olympics have taken the bull by the horn, announcing returns of their former coaches – Dr Prosper Narteh Ogum and Daniel Annor Walker, respectively.
Significantly, Dr Ogum and Annor Walker appear to be making similar calls to the clubs’ fans to be united to improve the fortunes of their respective clubs.
Unity among Kotoko fans was a major subject for Dr Ogum at his unveiling this week at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
He beseeched the fans to ‘let bygones be bygones’ as the club aimed at reclaiming its top hierarchy in the elite game in Ghana.
Annor Walker has officially not been unveiled but has been consistent in his interactions with friends in the media about the importance of having a united fan base.
Clearly, it shows the importance of leading a club supported by a united fan base.
That gives the players the peace of mind, confidence and desire to play.
Without it, the club struggles as evident among the above mentioned traditional clubs.
Interestingly, fans of Hearts, Kotoko and Olympics appeared the most disunited last season; either having issues with their respective management teams, technical teams and the playing bodies in some instances.
Obviously, it contributed to their poor placement on the league table with Hearts and Olympics even threatened by relegation.
Without doubt, a repeat of such behaviour could further damage the league’s reputation by virtue of having the largest followers who at some stage of the season stayed away from their games as matches were played in empty stadia.
By Andrew Nortey
President John Mahama has arrived in Moscow, Russia, from Ethiopia to participate in the 3rd Russia-Africa Summit.
The summit is being hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
During the visit, President Mahama will join fellow African leaders at the Economic and Humanitarian Forum and summit plenary sessions.
He is also scheduled to hold high-level bilateral talks with President Putin and attend a Kente exhibition organised by the Russia-Ghana Parliamentary Forum.
As part of the visit, the President will receive honorary doctorate degrees from the Russian University of Transport and the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia.
He will also engage Russian businesses and state institutions to advance bilateral cooperation between Ghana and Russia.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
President John Dramani Mahama has commissioned four career diplomats as ambassador-designates to represent Ghana in four countries.
The commissioning ceremony took place on Friday, October 16, 2026.
The new envoys are Her Excellency Nana Antwiwaa Dodoo, Ambassador-Designate to Angola; His Excellency Louis Kwame Obeng, Ambassador-Designate to Qatar; Her Excellency Evelyn Korantemaa Ofosu-Amable, Ambassador-Designate to Israel; and His Excellency Jedidiah Reuben Adogla, Permanent Representative-Designate to Switzerland.
President Mahama charged them to advance Ghana’s national interests through strategic partnerships, economic diplomacy, investment mobilization, and expanded access to international markets.
He said Ghana’s diplomatic engagements must deliver tangible economic benefits, create jobs, and strengthen the country’s standing on the international stage.
The four envoys are career diplomats with over 27 years of experience.
On behalf of her colleagues, Her Excellency Nana Antwiwaa Dodoo thanked the President for the confidence reposed in them and pledged their commitment to emulate his leadership and deliver on the mandate given to them.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
