*One of the pioneer Ghanaian sports presenters at the BBC has congratulated his colleague on his appointment as GFA spokesperson. Yaw Ampofo Ankrah who is also the President of the Ghana Beach Soccer Association said he was not at all surprised that his long time friend Ibrahim Sanie Daraa got the nod especially as they both started as young ambitious journalists over 16 years ago at Sunshine Radio which later became Choice FM.*

*'' He will do a great job but he has big shoes to fill because Randy was clearly his own man and highly respected even by his critics who tried unsuccessfully to get rid of him'' *

*The Ghana FA has been on the lookout for a replacement to Randy Abbey for sometime and Yaw Ampofo Ankrah was among a shortlist of contenders tipped to take the role. However, it is believed that the FA wanted a full time spokesman and working both in London and Accra, sports news globetrotting and his recent election as President of the Ghana Beach Soccer Association were factors the GFA had to consider.*

*''If Ibrahim is there, it means we are well represented because he is humble and he listens to advice. But let me tell you he is a tough cookie trust me. I have known him for over 17 years and he is no pushover just like his predecessor Randy''*

*Interestingly, the immediate past spokesperson, Randy Abbey, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah and Ibrahim Sannie all started their media careers at the same place when Ampofo Ankrah recruited Mr Daraa and Mr Abbey to what was then the most powerful and successful sports team on radio.*

*Ibrahim Sannie followed Ampofo Ankrah to the BBC, whilst Randy Abbey established himself as one of the most fearless and articulate social commentators cum football administrators of his generation with Accra Hearts of Oak and the GFA. ** *

*Yaw Ampofo Ankrah joked that if Randy is elected GFA president one day, it could be a BBC and old school mafia in charge of Ghana football. He added that Abbey's excellent role as the first FA spokesman, indicated that it was only a matter of natural course that the successor would come from the originators of the ''new school'' of sports reporters.*

*Pressed further, the ace sports journalist mentioned the likes of Michael Oti Adjei, Christopher Opoku, Kurt Okraku, Kwame Baah Nuakoh and Maurice Quansah as his classmates of ''good rebels'' who have all excelled in their own right.* *Credit: Sammy Heywood Okine