Mr Ben Koufie, Chairman of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has called for a massive shake-up and a complete reorganisation of the country's soccer administration in line with the contemporary world football.
He said whoever is made the new GFA boss after his exit at the end of the year, should be given enough room to exert himself as the president of the association so that when things go wrong, he would be held liable.
The GFA capo who spoke with the GNA Sports in Accra on Monday on the performance of the country's soccer and its prospects, said the current structure at the GFA limits how far the head of the management team (Chairman) can go.
He said the current democratic practice where everybody's view has to be sought before a crucial decision is made is inimical to the progress and success of the GFA.
"There must be somebody who should bell the cart, that is why professional football around the world develops", he said. The GFA boss did not mention any specific aspect of the GFA structure as inimical to his success but was apparently referring to the enormous powers of the executive council of the GFA, which has a say in every major decision taken by the management board.
He called for attitudinal change among clubs and administrators if Ghana football is to move forward.
Mr Koufie described as absurd where a player is qualified at the beginning of a season only to be declared unqualified in the course of the league and called for amendments in the GFA status book to regularise a decision taken at last year's congress.
At that congress, it was agreed that all clubs were to circulate the list of registered players at the beginning of every league season for comments and after 10 days, no one was to raise a finger at any player.
He noted that if all clubs adopt such plausible decisions, Ghana football would be spared its current problem of frequent protests. Mr Koufie said clubs must appreciate the fact that soccer is played on the pitch and not in the boardroom and all must recognise that the game is either won, lost or drawn, and "once this fact is accepted, there will be progress".
He described the setbacks of the national under-17 soccer team, the Black Starlets for its inability to qualify for both the Africa and World tournaments as normal saying; "there is always darkness before dawn".
The GFA boss said the FA's five-year development plan, which ensures that players with the right ages are recruited cannot produce immediate results but if followed religiously, it will catapult Ghana to the elite zone of world football.
He said there is an upward trend in the performance of the country's national teams, citing in particular the Black Stars and the Olympic team's exploits but was quick to add that it was due to the support and encouragement from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports in paying all allowances and winning bonuses owed the "boys".
On the issue of the national coach, Mr Koufie said there would not be a vacuum after the departure of Ralf Zumdick, adding that a replacement was being sought.
Asked what he should be remembered for, he said, "My frankness and the truth with which I worked, which unfortunately, have created enemies for me. But truth at the end always prevails".
He also mentioned his much-publicised five-year development plan, the Ghanaman Soccer School of Excellence and the revamping of regional football association's, which if developed to the letter will ensure the progress of Ghana football.
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