Sports News of Monday, 28 January 2019

Source: myoxygenworld.com

Yaw Ampofo Ankrah calls for support for Normalization Committee

Yaw Ampofo Ankrah exchanging pleasantries with Addo Larbi and and Nana Aborah Boateng Yaw Ampofo Ankrah exchanging pleasantries with Addo Larbi and and Nana Aborah Boateng

Seasoned journalist yaw Ampofo Ankrah has given his full backing to the Dr. Kofi Amoah led FIFA normalization committee to deliver on it's mandate and resuscitate Ghana football.

Speaking on the popular celebrity Sports Show on radio XYZ hosted by Nana Prempeh, the former BBC and Supersport anchor said it is an honor to serve on the Sponsorship and Marketing committee as vice chairman.

"Even if I was not on any of the subcommittees, I would still have offered my little advice and input in the new path Ghana football seeks to create through the Normalization Committee.

"The most critical stage of institutional change is the acceptance that there is something fundamentally wrong that must be changed. Thankfully, nobody is in denial that there is a need to approach things differently".

The Ghana FIFA Normalization Committee has come under fierce criticism from several quarters since it was put in place by FIFA in August 2018.

One chorus that the media is constantly singing is that the Normalization Committee appears to have overstepped it's boundaries with unnecessary impositions and the posture of knowing it all.

Coupled with a number of highly publicized confrontations with the Media and club owners, it has not always been smooth sailing, especially with football stakeholders.

As it stands now, the Normalization Committee is expected to clear the path and prepare the way for elections which would usher in the incoming GFA.

In the no-holds-barred interview lasting over 90 minutes, Ampofo Ankrah suggested that the incoming GFA President must be a person of intergrity, an open-minded leader and a global thinker with local interests.

"Having a background in football administration is obviously a bonus for whoever becomes the next chief of Ghana football.

However, as we have seen in other countries where football as a brand was transformed, notably the EPL in England, the Bundesliga in Germany and the La Liga in Spain, it was led by people not directly affiliated to the game".

Ampofo Ankrah cautioned against criticism for the sake of criticising.

" When we have qualified people from various backgrounds brought together to carve a template that would create the best environment for the beautiful game to thrive surely that cannot be a negative development"

Ampofo Ankrah also called on corporate Ghana to wipe the slate clean as far as the game of football is concerned in the country and help with the rebranding that will rekindle Ghanaians love for the game.

"Let's be positive and look forward to the day when Ghana would once again be a beacon in African and world football".