Osei Palmer plans to have two Vice Presidents when elected GFA boss

Ghana Football Association presidential aspirant, Wilfred Kwaku Osei Palmer says he will lobby the major stakeholders in the industry to allow him have two Vice Presidents if he is elected as head of the FA.

According to former Executive Committee member, his desire to have two lieutenants is based on the ideology that there must be clear separation of powers for the effective running of the Ghana Football Association.

Speaking at the launch of his Policy Document in Accra on Wednesday, Palmer said while this is against the current status quo he believes that the GFA Congress and Executive Council – the two highest decision-making bodies of the association - will see the wisdom in it and buy into the idea.

“Within this policy document we have indicated that we will lobby to have two vice presidents. Within the Francophone countries in Africa, which is even of a smaller unit they have two vice presidents. The reason I want two deputies is that you need someone who will concentrate on the administrative and finance aspect of the association. Then you also need someone who will focus on the operational or competitions aspect. At the moment I don’t have anybody in mind or in straight jacket form but when we go and meet as Executive Council members and some people have those qualities then we will elect them. Council will decide but at that moment competency will be the sole criteria,” Palmer said to the admiration of his guests.

Another major highlight of the policy document was the candidates ambitious, achievable, bankable and realistic strategy which will see the Association raise in excess of ninety million US dollars when elected into office.

Palmer said the sources of this ambition revenue target are already known and identifiable.

“Most of these are identifiable sources of funds to the GFA. The planning horizon of the generation of these funds would span through a period of four years. These prudential estimates are very conservative in nature as per the principle of budgetary estimates with the finance committee to be tasked to execute and target,” his policy document stated in part.

Palmer, an astute football administrator with many years of experience under his belt says the US90 million he intends to raise for the FA will come from the following areas.

- US $4m revenue from television broadcasting rights

- US$9m revenue from marketing rights

- US$3m revenue from licensing rights

- US$2m from merchandizing

- US$4m from digital transformation hub

- US$6m from FIFA grants

- US$8m from Futsal grants

- Other sources of revenue generation will be Caf funding programme, tax credit, solidarity, training, and compensation clearing house as well as prize money from international competitions, proceeds from friendly games among others.

While the staggering revenue projection for the FA was the highlight of the event, it must be noted that the document, titled “Reforming Ghana Football”, also covers eight areas that Palmer says he will work on should he get the nod to become next GFA president.

The areas are: football development, governance and administration, finance, infrastructure development, safety and security, competitions, commercialization, re-regulation, and reforms implementation process.