Dzamefe Report: Supporters Union Must Unite or...

Supporters groups in their current splinter modules would have to source funds to foot bills of their members when they want to go and cheer any of the national teams in international competitions.

This position is contained in parts of the accepted recommendations in the government White Paper on the Justice Senyo Dzamefe Commission report.

The report states in section 2.3 (a) “In the present state of multiple supporters’ groups, supporters must seek their own sponsorship to participate in tournaments and the state should, as a matter of policy, not directly employ public or state funds to airlift, accommodate and feed supporters.”

The document continues that in case the Government wants to necessarily sponsor fans, there should be clearly outlined modalities: “... there should be a clear policy and criteria for selection of supporters to attend such tournaments to ensure transparency in the selection on the premise that the various supporters groups should come together to form a single National Group.”

The report also asks that private contribution be encouraged to finance supporters unions instead of public funds. The Commission worked over four months with a total of 85 sittings and presented its report to the President in March 2014.

The Attorney General was subsequently tasked by the President to offer advice on the report, the AG on Thursday evening presented a White Paper on the commission’s report. The full report is expected to be out early next week.

A section of supporters group leaders have expressed misgivings about the particular recommendation positing that they (supporters unions) play a crucial role in cheering the sportsmen on and there was a need to fund their activities. They have called on the Ministry to take a second look at the particular recommendation.