Forward Ever, Backward Never!

GHANA FOOTBALL Association (GFA) may have lied on rocks for a number of occasions, but it has, for the past eight months, honed its jagged edges in the aftermath of muscle-flexing, writes Isaac Franklin.

Arguably, two past FA chairmen, Mr. Ben Koufie, and Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, have presided over an improper FA statute, which had a 37-member Executive Council, supervising a 5-member Management Board.

Mr. Koufie rang the alarm bells, over the preceding phenomenon, but his name was consequently dragged in the mud, till his term came to an end. That, notwithstanding, Mr. Koufie?s successor, Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe, continued his predecessor?s crusade to the limit. Fire-brand Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe, championed the cause of the FA statutes? revamp, and fortunately, FIFA stepped in, ordering the FA to, as a matter of necessity, restructure its constitution, to meet global standards.

Just after accomplishing his task, Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe bowed out of the FA, in a bid to lift his name into the stratosphere.

As matters stand now, the two past FA chairmen are swimming in the pool of victory, having helped to erase the errors in the FA statutes Last Thursday, December 1, members of the FA Congress, met to endorse the amended statutes, as ordered by FIFA, to set a new date for the election of FA officials. After the prorogation of the new status, Justice A.K.B Ampiah, president of Congress, announced December 30, as the new date for the election of the new president of FA.

Candidates have, between today and December 9, to submit their nominations, to be seconded by, at least, 10 members of Congress.

Also, the election of 10 Regional Football Association (RFA) chairmen, who automatically emerge members of the Executive Committee, would be elected, on December 19.

What is more, all districts in Ghana, which have 3rd and 4th Division clubs, will hold delegates? congresses, to elect two candidates, each, who, in turn, would elect the RFA chairmen, on December 8.

With the exception of Mr. Kojo Bonsu and Yusif Adams Ibrahim, who have expressed keen interests in the hot seat of the FA, almost all the top guns in Ghana soccer?s administration, have stressed the need for continuity in the FA?s management.

Messrs Welbeck Abra-Appiah, and George Amoako have openly declared support for the Nyantakyi-led Administration, to finish up its productive objectives. What even, demoralised enthusiastic contestants, is the support emanating from Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe, for Lawyer Nyantakyi.

?If anyone is going to handle the FA, for it to function properly and efficiently, then it?s Mr. Nyantakyi,? the immediate past FA chairman pointed out. Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe insists Lawyer Nyantakyi is the best candidate for the vacant FA presidency post, having assessed his pedigree, during the brief tenure at FA.

On Mr. Amoako?s part, Ghana soccer has achieve a lot under Lawyer Nyantakyi`s Administration, and he sees no reason why he should not be allowed to continue his good work.

Although the acting FA Boss is yet to confirm his interest for the FA presidency, George Amoako is confident Mr. Nyantakyi is the right person for the job.

?It?s not just our qualification for the World Cup, but anyone with eyes would see that Ghana soccer, under Nyantakyi, is achieving, even, the unthinkable.? For soccer pundits, rocking the boat of the FA, at this crucial moment, when majority of soccer gurus in the country, as well as foreign experts, are clamouring for a superb continuity, could spell doom for Ghana soccer.