A section of Ghanaians took to the streets of Accra yesterday February 14 to save their ‘love’ on Valentine’s Day.
Their quest to save their love from what they describe as a “family and friends Football Association” comes at the back of the poor performance of the senior national team, the Black Stars at the just-ended African Cup Of Nations.
Addressing the hundreds gathered at the Black Star Square where they convened before embarking on the demonstration, Sports Journalist, Saddick Adams (Sports Obama), a lead convenor of the demonstration, was grateful to the fans for showing up in their numbers to support the course of revamping Ghanaian football.
“We want the President of Ghana and Parliament to institute a committee to investigate our participation at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar as well as AFCON 2023 regarding the budget.”
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“Those who took US$100,000 at the World Cup should return it to the state budget, and we demand accountability, especially with the sponsorships we got for our national team,” Adams said.
In a petition to the government, the demonstrators led by renowned sports journalists and football administrators highlighted 15 issues that needed immediate attention. Among other demands, they called for the development of a national football policy, the institution of a commission of inquiry to probe factors contributing to the poor performance of the national teams, dissolution of the search committee’s report on the appointment of a new Black Stars coach, and the disbandment of management committees.
They also proposed the establishment of a National Teams Board and the development of a juvenile football in addition to a proper pay structure for national team coaches.
Presenting their petition to Ghana’s parliament, the house upon receiving the petition, permitted the demonstrators to sit in the gallery while parliamentarians made various submissions on their requests.
The Majority Chief Whip, Hon. Annor Dompreh, commended the demonstrators for their quest to save Ghana football. He emphasised the need for the house to take critical decisions on their petition even if it attracts sanctions from FIFA. He also highlighted the contribution of Football to the economic growth of the country while calling on the house to join hands in safeguarding Ghana Football.
On his part, Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa, described the $3M spent on the 2023 AFCON as a waste of money when the country could not boast of a FIFA standard stadium.
In an interaction with the media during the demonstration, popular Football Administrator, Alhaji Karim Grunsah attributed the failures in Ghana football to selfishness and lack of respect for stakeholders. He alleged that the Kurt-Okraku-led administration runs a “family and friends” system filled with corruption. He called on the government to dissolve the current Football Administration.
However, the Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports, Hon. Evans Opoku Bobie with some GFA Officials were booed when they met with the demonstrators to receive their petition.
The Kumasi edition of the #SaveGhanaFootball demonstration is scheduled for later this month.
