It is strange that political ambitions and propaganda will blind people into making false and unashamed allegations like the one subscribed to in the article “Kwasi Nyantakyi Shames Brong Ahafo Region...... AS GFA Boss Charge on Journalist and snubs snacks” published on Ghanaweb on Sunday 18 April.
The writer who failed to reveal his identity knows clearly that he was only writing to tarnish the image of Nyantakyi and couldn’t state exactly why he thinks the FA President disgraced the Brong Ahafo Region as his headline misleadingly suggests.
That the meeting started late than planned and the venue was untidy with few seats as the article claimed, cannot be the fault of Mr. Nyantakyi when the he was just a guest being hosted. The same can also be said of the article’s petty claim that “hot sachets of water were given to the participants but the FA president and his entourage took chilled Voltic mineral water.” I don’t see how Mr. Nyantakyi is responsible for anything served at the function of which he is guest. And if the FA president refused to take meat pie served him, it is only petty and shameful to also state that “he gave a cat look and then pushed aside to signify his dissatisfaction.” When has it become a crime or as in this case a show of pride and pompousity to turn down food or refreshment offered one? Since when, we want to know?
If you have a personal agenda against Kwesi Nyantakyi, then it is sad to bring shame and disrepute to sports journalists in the Brong Ahafo Region with the petty statement; “To add insults to injury each pressman was given GH¢ 5.00 which those who care about their dignity refused.” Much as the money may not be much, it is not mandatory for pressmen to be paid after such a meeting. And again who says it was Nyantakyi who issued the said amount? If you don’t know, ask journalists in Accra if they are paid any money after GFA programmes, just ask them.
The article concluded with questions that “What does Nyantakyi and his Asante take Brong Ahafo people for? Why Twene Amanfo and not Eusbett Conference Hall or De Jet Hotel ? Why hot sachets of water for the participants but Voltic for Nyantakyi? Where will Kotoko, Faisal , Sam Timmer, Joe Lakkah and co be hosted during Nyantakyi’s Ashanti Regional Tour? Amass hall or OKESS hall? Where will Hearts, Liberty , Odiasempa, Swanzy and Abatey be hosted in Accra ? Accra Girls hall or Pope John’s hall? Brong Ahafo deserves equal treatment .” Okay it is very true that the Brong Ahafo Region deserves equal treatment as all other regions but is it right to put the entire blame at the doorstep of Kwesi Nyantakyi? We must learn to put our house in order first before we start pointing accusing fingers at others.
As Mr. Nyantakyi did say during his vist and as was reported by this writer on this same Ghanaweb entitled “Tour of regions: Nyantakyi debunks Odotei's political talk,” published last Friday April 16, the GFA is no property of his and when he goes about performing his duty as the boss, it is rather unfortunate, petty and cheap politics to read wrong meanings as this. If anything, the organisation and subsequent hosting of Mr. Nyantakyi and his entourage was in the hands of the BA Regional FA who must take the blame for any organisational lapses. Nyantakyi cannot be held responsible.
I am certainly no puppet or fan of Nyantakyi as my many other writings and presentations attest, but as objective and fair journalists, we must be circumspect in our analysis, because facts are sacred and comments free. And if you know you are doing a clean and fair job, please add your name to the story you write, don’t hide behind and post unfair articles to satisfy your petty political ambitions, thank you.
