Hot!
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
The Africa Investment Network has entered a new partnership with 17 Asset Management to expand investment opportunities for Africans in the diaspora.
The two organisations will work together to open more pathways for diaspora investors, provide better data on markets, and connect investors to viable projects across the continent.
The partnership will focus on mapping investment opportunities across countries and sectors, building a Diaspora Pathways Program to guide new investors, and creating a shared research platform that provides market insights, returns benchmarks, regulatory updates and sector outlooks.
The two groups will also develop a trade and deal catalogue to help match businesses with partners.
As part of the collaboration, both institutions will host investment roadshows through the Global Africa Summit series, starting with GAS Accra from December 11 to 12 at the Alisa Hotel.
The event will showcase deals, hold sector briefings and connect investors with government and private sector actors.
Africa Investment Network founder and Chief Executive Jane Reindorf Osei noted that diaspora capital remains one of Africa’s strongest advantages because it is patient, purpose driven and closely linked to local development outcomes.
She explained that the partnership will help direct more diaspora investment into areas where it can make the most impact.
Chairman of 17 Asset Management, John Morris, highlighted that the joint effort will blend strong investment design with Africa Investment Network’s networks and convening power.
He stressed that improved research and compliant market access will give diaspora investors more confidence across different markets.
The two institutions will open their diaspora investment platform in the second quarter of 2026, followed by the launch of a co investment window.
Investment roadshows will also be held in North America, the Caribbean and key African centres next year.
Africa Investment Network and 17 Asset Management invited governments, development finance institutions, family offices, asset managers and other partners to support deal creation, risk sharing and market building initiatives aimed at boosting diaspora participation.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Government Communications Minister Felix Kwakye Ofosu insists that neither President Mahama nor the National Democratic Congress has filed any petition seeking the removal of the Electoral Commission Chairperson and her two deputies.
In a one on one Interview with GHone, he explained that the President only forwarded petitions he received, as required by law, and has not initiated any action against the EC leadership.
According to him, the identities and motives of the petitioners remain unknown to government, and the Presidency is not involved in that part of the process.
Mr Kwakye Ofosu stressed that while the NDC has openly disagreed with some actions of the Electoral Commission in the past, the party has not submitted any petition asking for the removal of the EC Chair or her deputies.
He noted that comments by the NDC National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, questioning the EC’s competence, do not amount to a formal petition.
He added that criticism of public officials is normal and does not automatically translate into a request for their removal.
Mr Kwakye Ofosu explained that once a petition is received, the President’s only role is to forward it to the Chief Justice.
The Chief Justice then decides if the allegations have merit. If they do, a committee is set up to investigate.
He said those named in the petitions will be officially informed by the Chief Justice, not the Presidency.
They will then have the opportunity to appear before the committee, respond to the claims, and provide any evidence in their defence.
Mr Kwakye Ofosu expressed confidence that the process will be fair and will protect the rights of all those involved.
By: Jacob Aggrey
