Accra, March 3, GNA - An ultra-modern office complex to serve as the national secretariat of the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) was on Wednesday commissioned after a short ceremony in Accra.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, Albert Agbozo, Acting Chief Executive of the National Sport Council (NSC) asked all stakeholders of football to put their house in order to ensure proper development of the game in the country.
Mr Agbozo stressed on the need for peaceful co-existence within the various constituents of the game for a holistic development before the country can make any meaningful impact on the international scene. The secretariat which is situated behind the Osu stand of the Accra Sports Stadium and was the former offices of Arab Contractors during the expansion work of the stadium, cost GHALCA over one billion cedis to complete.
Mr Agbozo stressed on the need for clubs to build some basic infrastructures like training grounds to ease the pressure on state owned facilities.
The chairman for the occasion, Nana Sam Brew Butler, former Chairman of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) decried the culture where one of the two nominees of the President for the GFA chairmanship slot always resigns leaving the other to stand unopposed at the last minute. He said there is the need even for the one who is standing unopposed to be subjected to some sort of voting for the electorate to accept or reject his candidature for him to have some sort of legitimacy. Nana Brew-Butler asked the GFA to respect its own rules in order for them to have the authority to punish any club that go against it, irrespective of the size of the club.
He said the rules of FIFA are very clear that any team that takes the GFA to court should be expelled from the association and does not see why clubs are allowed to flout it and go free.
Addressing the gathering, Mr J Y Appiah, Chairman of GHALCA paid a glowing tribute to the forefathers of the association for their vision and sacrifice that has brought them that far.
He said the association has chalked some modest success in their short existence, which includes the sustaining of division one league clubs and paying officiating fees for its members.
Mr Appiah said GHALCA has also organized and institutionalized the Top Four (4 ) competition, an off-season training and preparation platform for its premier league members to prepare for the African club competitions.
He said amidst of all these achievements, the association has been surprised by recent actions of certain personalities who have sought to give the association a bad image in the eyes of the public.
Mr Appiah assured the public that the association is a non-political organization, which is aimed at seeking the welfare of clubs and assured all members that it is poised to crush any antagonistic forces that are desirous of bringing down their hard earned reputation.
Present at the ceremony were, Alhaji Y. A. Ibrahim, Chairman of the Executive Council of the GFA, Mr Ben Koufie, Chairman of the GFA, Dr Nyaho Tamakloe one of the candidates expected to be named by the President to via for the position of GFA chairman among others.
