Normalization Committee calls on Sports Minister

The Minister for Youth and Sports Hon Isaac Kwame Asiamah (MP) has reiterated Government's readiness to support the Normalization Committee of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) as the latter embarks on a process of restoring confidence and trust in football activities in the country.

The Sector Minister said Government recognizes the current situation as an opportune time to right the wrongs that have long been associated with every facet of the game, make it attractive for Ghanaians to patronize and enjoy their football again.

The Minister made these remarks when the Normalization Committee of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) led by its President Dr Kofi Amoah called on him at his office yesterday.

The visit was one of the many visits by the Committee to brief the Minister on work done so far while seeking inputs from the Ministry on the way forward for Ghana Football.

Hon Isaac Kwame Asiamah expressed Government's gratitude for their immense demonstration of dedication and valour to the course, adding that "having been very successful in your respective endeavours, I'm very confident that the Committee is very capable of delivering on your mandate to the expectations of football lovers.

The Minister noted that Ghana football has suffered some significant damage to its image and appealed to the Committee to work and overturn the fortunes of Ghana football brand. This, he said, would go a long way of attracting the needed corporate support for the Game.

In a bid to work on the image of Ghana Football, the Deputy Minister Hon Perry Curtis Okudzeto also urged the Committee to ensure that other stakeholders such as the media, who are very significant towards this drive are involved and are made to be part of the process of the reformation.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Amoah thanked the Ministry for its unflinching support after the Committee was instituted by world football governing body, FIFA.

Dr Kofi Amoah reckons the challenges ahead as a result of the huge expectations of Ghanaians. However, he was optimistic that with the continued support from Government, stakeholders and the people of Ghana, the Committee would be able to bring about the needed reforms in the country's football activities.

In this regard, Dr Amoah disclosed that the Committee has started engaging people who have deep understanding of the industry to be part of yet to be announced ad-hoc committees that would work with the Committee to successfully deliver on its mandate.

In the absence of the National League, the President of the Normalisation Committee revealed that they are currently consulting with all appropriate stakeholders to plan a special competition as a way of engaging the clubs whiles the statutes review and other reforms are being worked on.

In the meeting were the other members of the Committee namely the Vice President, Mrs Lucy Quist, and Mrs Naa Odofoley.

The rest were the two Deputy General Secretaries of the GFA, Mr Alex Asante and Mr Emmanuel Dasobre as well as the Normalization Committee's Spokesperson, Dan Kwaku Yeboah.