New media centre for GFA

Accra, April 15, GNA - The Ghana Football Association (GFA) is to establish a media department at its secretariat to facilitate information flow between the association and the media on a daily basis.

This innovation is to help bridge the communication gap between the GFA and the media and to allow for open interaction on pertinent issues. Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, Chairman-elect of the GFA who disclosed this after his election said the creation of the department would be one of the first things his administration would do in a bid to ensure transparency in the conduct of its work.

He said the department would be managed by a full time professional whilst the Chairman or any other member of the GFA may respond directly to media enquiries when necessary.

Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe said he had observed with some discomfort how sometimes relationship between the GFA and sections of the media had deteriorated into a state of acrimony, mistrust and mutual suspicion. "Such bad blood in the past has been the product of lack of transparency on the part of the FA and misinformation on the part of the media". Mr Nyaho-Tamakloe noted.

The Chairman said there is no doubt that in today's football business the media is a valuable partner and an indispensable one as such and therefore it is his decision to take a first look at the issue to arrive at an amicable solution.

Another area of concern the Chairman said would be addressed is ensuring that premier league clubs are more professional. "If it means assisting these clubs by way of legislation and p olicy to enter the stock market and expand their share holding base, my administration will ensure that". Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe emphasised.

He expressed worry that clubs like Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko with their large following have nothing to show by way of property, adding that making such clubs to function as professional bodies would ensure that many more people invest in them.