I won’t deal directly with GFA-Sports Minister-designate

The Youth and Sports Minister-designate says if approved he would refocus the attention of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to deliver on its mandate.

Isaac Asiamah says he would not be dealing directly with the football administration activities as has been the practice for decades.

Speaking before Parliament’s Appointments Committee Tuesday, the Atwima Mponua Member of Parliament (MP) said he would allow the National Sports Authority (NSA) to play its superintending role over the GFA as mandated.

“I will not be dealing directly with the GFA, it has to root all its programmes through the NSA...for sanction,” he said.

Former Sports Minister, Akua Sena Dansoa

The football administration has had a frosty relationship with the political heads of the ministry it works under for some time now.

Many Sports Ministers have been changed because of their inability to handle some cases of alleged corruption in the GFA.

Former Sports Minister, Akua Sena Dansoa said in 2011 that the ministry is an interesting and challenging one which requires effective management.

Immediate past Sports Minister, Nii Lantei Vanderpuye

“There are people who think it is their birthright to be in the Ministry of Youth and Sports so whether you like it or not, they want to influence the decisions that you make, they want to tell you what to do, when in actual fact they are not there [and] they don’t know the inside stuff at the moment,” she lamented.

Immediate past Sports Minister, Nii Lantei Vanderpuye fought the GFA President, Kwesi Nyantakyi in public from the first day he was appointed by former President John Mahama.

He had accused some officials of the FA of blatantly perpetuating corruption in the management of the organisation.

In a sharp retort, the FA boss described the Odododiodoo MP as a “serial caller” over a comment he made about the nation’s Premier League.

FA boss, Kwesi Nyantakyi

The former Minister in an interview with Asempa FM said Ghana’s top-flight activity is unattractive which explains why sponsors are not interested in coming on board.

“When you take your problems out without attempting to solve them, you’re being amateurish. I have not done anything wrong and the old man upstairs will judge us one day,” Mr Nyantakyi said of the Minister.

Against this backdrops, the longest serving Ranking Member of Parliament’s Youth and Sports Committee said he would be minded in his dealing with the FA.

Mr Asiamah said the work of the Minister is not to become an implementer of GFA activities but rather has to formulate policies for agencies working under the ministry to function effectively.

“Mr Chairman I believe and respect the principle of ultimate responsibility. My job is to formulate, coordinate, harmonise, monitor, evaluate the performance of agencies under me,” he said.

He also said he would not partake in bonus negotiations for the senior national team, Blackstars.