I wiII step down in 2019 - Kwesi Nyantakyi

The president of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kwesi Nyantakyi, has told the Graphic Sports that he will not seek a re-election into office when his current term ends in 2019.

According to Nyantakyi, the decision not to seek a re-election for a fourth term stems from his personal belief that ‘the best time to leave is when the applause is still very loud.’

In an exclusive interview with the Graphic Sports in Accra, Nyantakyi, who had been re-elected to the Executive Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and also the Council of world football’s governing body, FIFA, believed by that time, a successor would have also emerged to take over from him and continue from where he would be leaving off.

“Indeed, I have no plans to entrench myself in the position as it is a privileged post; at a point, I would have to leave and there is no better time to do so than when the applaud is very loud,” he mentioned.

Asked if the decision was out of the calls for him to step down after being elected to the CAF and FIFA roles, Nyantakyi said the decision was part of his plans as he believed it would not serve the interest of Ghana football if he sought to entrench himself in that position.

In reaction to that call, Nyantakyi said there was no need for him to step down immediately just because he had assumed new roles at the international level, indicating that he would see out the term to the end in 2019.

“ I don’t think I’m the only person capable of leading Ghana football. I can do so much, but not everything. Besides, I think we all must take a page from the wind of change blowing in FIFA on reforms which, among other things, place a limit on the term of presidents,” the man also being pencilled in to become the next CAF vice-president explained.

However, after his departure from the GFA seat in 2019, Nyantakyi will still serve on the CAF ExCo and FIFA Council, as both are for a four-year term each which will expire in 2021.