Chief Executive Officer of Tema Youth Football club, Wilfred Kwaku Osei on Wednesday, October 2, became the second among the six GFA presidential hopefuls to officially unveil his manifesto.
The 45-page policy document which is christened ‘Reforming Ghana Football’, details how a Palmer-led GFA will restructure the FA, restore integrity and also create wealth for all parties involved in Ghana.
GhanaWeb takes a look ten major points from the manifesto of the former Black Stars management committee chairman.
Two vice presidents for GFA
The GFA under its current structure which has existed since 2005 has one person serving as veep to the president but that could change if Palmer gets the nod.
Palmer has hinted of modelling the GFA after that of CAF where two people act vice president. The General-Secretary position will also witness similar changes.
“Team Palmer would propose 2 (two) Vice–Presidents for the due consideration of congress for approval. These designated offices would be Vice–Presidents Competitions and Vice-Presidents Finance and Administration respectively.
“The Vice-President Competitions would be the first Vice-President empowered with the oversight responsibility of the core business of GFA, competitions. This position would be subjected to elections in the first meeting of the executive committee” he stated in his manifesto.
Tax rebates for sponsors of GFA and clubs
Palmer says when elected, he will lobby the powers that be to grant tax rebates to companies who agree to provide support to the association, national teams and clubs.
He will also plead with the government to reduce the 17.5% Tax deduction on gate proceeds.
This, he believes will help the association and clubs generate enough revenue to finance their activities.
Ultra-modern sports hospital
The era where clubs flew injured players abroad to undergo treatment will become history if Palmer succeeds his ‘godfather’ Nyantakyi.
An ambitious project it may seem but Palmer is confident that within his first four years, he will generate enough funds to build a 100-bed hospital for the GFA.
“Football as a contact sports demands physical performances from athletes who are well conditioned to deliver competitive successes on the ?eld of play. This border around achieving highest performances in all competitions, improving and accelerating recovery, obtaining optimal body weight and physical condition and minimizing injuries and illness as key components of contemporary football development.
Generate $90m for football administration
Palmer has promised the football fraternity that he will find innovative means to raise a staggering US$90.3million to fund activities of the federation within his first four years.
These monies he explains will come from FIFA grants, sponsorship deals, broadcasting rights and other sources.
Infrastructure galore
Palmer also plans to construct Head Offices and Regional Offices 'conservatively' estimated at US$ 3million for the GFA, a four-star modern facility for national teams (US$ 4million), hospitality events (US$ 2.5million).
He will also build 25 natural pitches at a cost of US$2.5 million and 10 artificial pitches at a cost of US$4million.
Women’s football desk
Palmer has a policy of instituting a desk that will be dedicated to matters concerning women’s football.
This desk which will be chaired by a woman will run women’s football and oversee activities of all female teams.
There will also be a conscious effort to ensure that the inequality between men and women is bridged.
“Football for Women is not a special case of Football for Men. Men and Women have the same right to equality of chances although in football it is still utopian. There are many more equalities than di?erences between men and women in football because the Laws of the Game are the same. This per se, means that the tasks which are connected with the functions of the players on the ?eld are the same ie. a male striker has to ?nd solution to “football situations” as a female striker”.
Semi-autonomous league
Unlike Kurt who promised a Ghana Premier League autonomous from the GFA, the GPL under Palmer’s reign will enjoy some level of autonomy but definitely not absolute.
His policy statement details that “Team Palmer would consider the possibility of introducing an independent league managed under independent out?t separate from the GFA. It is worthy of emulation that all disciplinary and adjudicating processes remain under the preserve of the GFA. Various options have been considered with Team Palmer choosing the second option”.
Regional and district leagues
This policy is aimed at developing football from the grassroot level. Palmer’s GFA would institute regional and district leagues which will have division one and two clubs competing .
Branding and commercialization of football
High on the agenda of Palmer is branding and commercialization of Ghana football to make it attractive to corporate institutions.
Though Palmer recognizes the strides made by some clubs in this regard, he still believe that improvement is needed.
There will also be a campaign to redeem the battered image of Ghana football.
“Team Palmer would prioritize its commercial activities to the e?ect of bringing back the lost glory of Ghana football. GFA as the brand is badly damaged in the minds of Ghanaians with corporate Ghana as no exception. There would be a deliberate e?ort by Team Palmer to embark on image redemption moves to inform and educate Ghanaians in general of the intricacies of the GFA operations. The erroneous impressions created on the GFA are largely due to misinformation. There would be the need for a major retreat aimed at rectifying the perceptions of Ghanaians on the activities of GFA. Various documentaries would be shown, and direct interactions made after brainstorming sessions on the way forward with Ghana football.
Talent development
Michael Essien, Joseph Paintsil and Thomas Partey are just three of the many players to have been discovered by the Tema Youth chief.
Talent discovery and development is Palmer’s specialty and his Tema Youth has become a feeder club for the various national teams.
His first love it appears and he will definitely not ditch it when he become the leader of Ghana football.
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