Sports
When Commission’s recommendations are blackened!
Ghana has had a googol of Committees and Commissions of Inquiry over the years. And, it is exciting to see the rapidity with which such groups were put together.
Of course, there is absolutely nothing wrong forming a Committee or Commission to stage a ‘snake-pit’ inquisition into any supposed scandalous activity committed against the state.
Indeed, that is one of the practical steps to take to establish the truth or otherwise of a situation.
Most of the Committees put together are supposed to comprise of men and women of integrity and honesty whose image are always on the line and would stop at nothing to ensure they did a good, solid job.
Such personalities, most often than not, would hardly bend the rules – or dance to anybody’s whim and caprices.
It is sad to say, however, that we are becoming a country that is only animated with the swift formation of such committees, but are not really fascinated about the upshot of the painstaking days and months of sitting.
More painful and heart-throbbing is the fact that we spend tens of thousands of the tax payer’s money on committee sittings only to throw their reports and recommendations into the drain unashamedly.
It is bewildering. It is inconceivable. It is unthinkable. Why we do this as a nation is something that would continue to hound the minds of well-meaning Ghanaians, for many years to come.
Unmistakably, it is increasingly becoming palpable that such committees were only set up to, as it were, gratify the public. Or, you can also say, the authorities were only trying to play the ‘Russian Roulette’ by forming the committees.
As we speak now, there are quite a number of such committee reports and recommendations gathering dusts at the Ghana Football Association (GFA), the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS) and the National Sports Authority (NSA).
Indeed, you do not have to stretch too much to point to a couple of them in recent times including the Maputo 2011 All Africa Games Committee that recommended for the prosecution of certain individuals enmeshed in financial impropriety.
What happened to the Justice Senyo Dzamefe White Paper Report on the Brazil 2014 World Cup after the ignominious first round exit of the Black Stars? What about the 2018 Australia Visa Scandal Report and its recommendations? You remember the Justice Sule Gbadegbe Commission White Paper Report on Player Transfer Scandal in the late 90s, too?
Question is, why do we decide to splash the tax payer’s hard-earned cash on such Committees and Commissions, all-too aware that we are going to take their recommendations with a pinch of salt?
Many people indicted by such committees have gone scot-free with all their ‘ill-gotten booties’ because the ‘damning’ recommendations have been gum-booted into the abyss.
For how long are we going to tread this disturbingly agonizing path? Forever?
God have mercy on us!
By John Vigah
Attention will be at the Golden City Park in Berekum tomorrow as Hearts of Oak lock horns with Berekum Chelsea FC in a Ghana Premier League Matchday 6 game that promises an electrifying atmosphere.
Lying sixth on the league table with two wins and three draws, the Phobians visit a ground that has been favourable to them in recent times. In their last three visits to the Golden City Park, Hearts have amassed seven out of nine points, putting them in strong contention to win.
Head Coach Mas-Ud Didi Dramani says, “The team is making progress in its tactical identity despite the lack of goals, and this is something we are working on ahead of this game.”
Hearts will come face-to-face with former coach Samuel Boadu, whose side lies a distant 13th on the league table with a win and a draw from four games. Coach Boadu is yet to celebrate a victory over the Phobians since joining the Berekum lads and would hope this fixture marks a turnaround.
Ninth-placed Vision FC would trek to the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park in Bechem to play Bechem United, while new boys Hohoe United host Aduana FC at the Hohoe Sports Stadium.
Returnees Swedru All Blacks will welcome Basake Holy Stars to the Swedru Sports Stadium, with defending league champions Bibiani Gold Stars staying put at their backyard, the Dun’s Park, to welcome second-placed Heart of Lions FC on Monday.
Today at the TnA Stadium in Tarkwa, Medeama SC will clash with Samartex FC in a Western derby. Other games scheduled for today would see Eleven Wonders FC host Karela United at the Swedru Sports Stadium, while Dreams FC face Nations FC at the Tuba Astro Turf.
By Raymond Ackumey
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Ghana coach Otto Addo may not command the kind of fear and respect like Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Luis Enrique and others in the modern game, but in his small corner, he is gradually climbing the ladder to greatness in Ghana, Africa and the world at large.
The aforementioned coaches attained greatness with club sides and, therefore, open an argument over whether one is not comparing apples to oranges. But no matter how one looks at it, they are all coaches harbouring similar ambitions to attain greatness in their fields.
Otto Addo is one of the young and upcoming coaches holding a lot of promise and was getting experience with his association with Borussia Dortmund in Germany until his path was directed by a Ghana call.
Although he was born in Germany, Otto Addo’s association with Ghana football dates back to 1999, spanning a period of about seven years; commencing with a 5–0 rout of Eritrea on February 28. He gained international prominence when he joined the squad for the 2000 African Cup of Nations. He featured as a midfielder in the team for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
But like it’s often said, a prophet is not recognised in his own home and his efforts partially went unnoticed. He’ll go into the annals as one of the Black Stars coaches to have been fairly or otherwise criticised not just by ‘football people’ but fans who doubted him.
His sack has been discussed at various platforms by people whose knowledge and tactical acumen about the game remains questionable. Ghana’s Minister for Sports and Recreation, Mr Kofi Adams, at one point openly stated his doubts over Otto Addo’s ability to actually deliver.
No coach would feel secured in such turbulent times, but coach Otto Addo kept his calm and composure. On the corridors of his employers, however, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) president, Kurt Okraku, openly rallied support for him, though a few ‘doubting Thomases’ still questioned his credentials.
That painted a picture of a people that forget easily and are quick to crucify. In a brief moment of adversity, Ghanaians forgot how Otto Addo was brought in to pluck qualification for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup from the jaws of the Super Eagles of Nigeria with a solitary goal over two legs.
The upshot of that feat was not one any Nigerian would want to remember. The scenes after the match were awfully chaotic, as fans vented their anger on facilities at the stadium. Back in Ghana, it was partying all night and day.
Otto Addo was labeled the football magician. He achieved something no Ghanaian coach had ever accomplished; a feat which Ghana with her all-time best teams could not attain. That was the climax to which Otto Addo took Ghana football, generating calls to start believing in the Ghanaian coach.
Following that to the World Cup proper was another story altogether. It was, or may have been, our poorest show at any of the four World Cup appearances. And just as it was stipulated in his contract, he bowed out after the Qatar World Cup to mind his Borussia Dortmund business with peace.
But as fate would have it, nature found a way to renew his romance with Ghana football after an unconvincing start to the America, Canada and Mexico dream World Cup under special advisor turned coach, Chris Hughton.
Ghana started the qualifiers on a winning note but not a convincing performance. It was saved by an Inaki Williams goal scored on the sixth minute of additional time against Madagascar at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium. The Black Stars then slumped to a 1-0 defeat at the Stade de Moroni to Comoros to heighten calls for a new technical direction.
Then stepped in Otto Addo when Ghana occupied the fourth position in Group I with three points but with the countries in the group evenly matched.
By Andrew Nortey
