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No easy road to Qatar 2022
In less than two months, Ghana’s Black Stars will restart the second phase of its potentially engaging journey to the Qatar 2022 World Cup, after effortlessly strolling through the preliminaries.
It would be the Stars’ fourth appearance at the global stage, if they are able to pluck a ticket from the tricky-thistle qualifiers that also have a final third round to deal with.
Clearly, qualification will only become a possibility with lots of hard work, commitment, dedication, unity of purpose and valour.
This penultimate round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifications begins in June 2021 across the continent.
Ghana is placed in Group G alongside South Africa, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia and will necessarily have to keep their nose to the grindstone to finish top of the group.
The Stars will start the campaign at home against Ethiopia and finish off the qualifiers in front of their pet crowd with South Africa in October 2021.
According to the schedule as released by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), at the end of this phase, the group toppers of the 10 groups meet for yet another elimination phase between November 8 and 16, 2021.
Ghana’s last World Cup appearance was in Brazil 2014. And, it was a calamitous campaign as it ended in a first round shocking exit, though Asamoah Gyan netted twice in the tournament to become Africa’s top scorer at the Mundial.
Eleven years ago, it ended in a stunningly blissful quarter final berth in a South African tournament that shook the world.
Ghanaians have been looking forward again to drinking from that unforgettably sweet pot of football that clobbered the world into a trance, but that should be possible if we do not underestimate the strength of South Africa, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe in the campaign.
Only a fortnight or so ago, Ghana plucked four points off South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in their two meetings of the Cameroon 2021 qualifiers. Evidently, upshot of the games hugely contributed to the elimination of the South Africans from the biennial tournament, and they would come with all guns blazing in the World Cup qualifiers.
As for Zimbabwe and Ethiopia, they may not be a towering force to reckon with but the duo can become a thorn in the flesh and serve as a banana peel to our quest to make it to our fourth Mundial. Both teams have booked tickets to the next AFCON.
At the 2006 African Cup of Nations, the Zimbabwean Warriors displayed real polished football to edge out the Black Stars 2-1 in a Group D clash at the Ismailia Stadium, Egypt.
The Stars, who were then bound for the Germany 2006 World Cup, conceded an own goal through defender Issah Ahmed a minute before the hour mark with Benjamin ‘Benjani’ Mwaruwari doubling the advantage 10 minutes later. Baba Adamu pulled one back in the final seconds of the evening but that spangling effort was a little too late.
The result of the night left Ghana crumbling out of the tournament at the group stage. A draw or win would have sent the Stars through.
Just like Zimbabwe, Ethiopia cannot be taken for granted, having made it to the Cameroon AFCON after eight years in the ‘wilderness.’
With a type of football that oozes out pretty patterns on the pitch, Ethiopia can be a viciously dangerous unit when not properly caged.
Much as it is important to focus on the impending AFCON that is expected to be held in January, we must also keep an eye on the World Cup qualifiers and make it count.
The key word here is focus; we must keep an eye on the ball.
Remember, we ought to make it to Qatar 2022 at all cost, and go right the wrongs of that ‘forget-me-quick tournament of shame!
PlainTalk with JOHN VIGAH
Madam Sandra Seyram Kpedor, the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Anloga in the Volta Region, has emphasised the importance of parental involvement in children’s education, stating that education is free, but parents need to do more to support their children.
She said parents, teachers, and students must be involved in addressing the challenges facing the district’s education sector, particularly the poor Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results.
Madam Kpedor outlined some key roles parents should play to promote their children’s education, including providing a conducive learning environment, monitoring their children’s progress, and supporting teachers.
The DCE highlighted some challenges the district faced such as inadequate infrastructure and a shortage of teachers, which have also contributed to the poor BECE results and called on well-to-do parent to help solve the situation through and other supports.
To address the issues, she also announced that plans have been taken to utilise the district’s common fund to implement educational projects, such as constructing school blocks and teachers’ bungalows at Sodzi community, and 2-unit classroom blocks each at Akplorwutorkor and Tegbi-Afedome respectively, among others.
Madam Kpedor also noted that her office had earlier notified the Ministry of Education to deploy more teachers to the area to improve teaching and learning, and encouraged students to work hard and strive for excellence, and work beyond their limit to succeed.
“To my wonderful and beautiful girls, you have to know it clear that women and girls have equal opportunities to compete with men for greater achievements,” she indicated.
The DCE cited her own achievement as a testament to the fact that women can excel in leadership positions, alongside Vice President Nana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, and stressed that girls were no longer limited to domestic roles but can pursue their dreams and become leaders.
Additionally, she mentioned that a meeting was held earlier with assembly members, and other stakeholders to address the district’s educational challenges and improve academic performance.
She promised that the district’s education oversight committee and stakeholders would work together to address the challenges and improve the district’s BECE results and called for parental involvement and support to boost the district’s education sector for children to chase their dreams to become future leaders for the success of the district and the nation.
She urged parents not to leave everything to the government but rather help in the provision of some necessary materials such as textbooks, exercise books, pens, pencils, food, and guidance to children for the successes of young learners. –GNA
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The spokesperson for Dr. Bawumia, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has criticised the implementation of the NDC government’s No Fee Stress policy, arguing that the programme has failed to deliver on its core promise.
According to him on Starr fm, the policy, which was introduced to ensure stress free payment of fees for level 100 tertiary students, has rather turned into what he described as post stress support.
He explained that students are required to pay their fees first before applying for reimbursement, a situation he believes defeats the purpose of the policy.
He questioned claims by government officials that the policy has been successful and that citizens are happy.
In his view, such claims do not reflect the lived realities of many Ghanaians. He stressed that while some people may appear satisfied, many others continue to struggle.
Dennis Miracles Aboagye pointed to the situation of trained teachers and nurses who have been picketing for nearly six months, demanding employment.
He noted that government responses suggesting it cannot accommodate all of them contradict claims of economic stability.
He further argued that economic indicators such as a stable currency mean little to people who are unable to secure jobs or access promised support.
He observed that telling an unemployed teacher or a struggling student that the cedi has strengthened does not address their immediate challenges.
On the issue of tertiary education, he maintained that no level 100 student benefited from stress free fees in 2025, despite the policy being announced.
He added that in 2026, students have already reported to school without receiving the promised support.
He insisted that asking students to pay fees first and seek reimbursement later amounts to support after hardship, not stress free education.
According to him, this approach goes against what was promised during the policy announcement.
Dennis Miracles Aboagye questioned why a government that presents the economy as strong is unable to fulfil what he described as simple and clear promises.
He added that there is a fundamental problem with the way the economy is being managed and indicated that he is prepared to explain his position further.
By: Jacob Aggrey
