Is Ghana sport also turning to Politics and Tribalism?

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) justifying the defense of its choice Kwesi Nyantakyi, GFA President, as the nominee to contest CAF’s election for an Executive Committee position. This generated a heat of challenges, throwing the hypocrite, Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr to shouting on top of his voice in a discussion with GFA Spokesperson, Randy Abbey.
It is all about government’s preference for the soccer maestro and Ghana’s football legend, Abedi Ayew Pele instead of Kwesi Nyantakyi for the CAF position, which has blown a lot of heated debate in the media and football circles.
It would be recalled that the Executive Committee of the GFA reaffirmed its decision to back the candidature of Mr. Kwesi Nyantakyi for the vacant seat of the Western Zone B on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Executive Committee. The GFA’s declaration on Thursday, November 11th, was in response to the Sports Ministry's letter dated 9th November, 2010 that sought to impose Abedi Pele as the candidate against that of Kwesi Nyantakyi for the running of the CAF position.

Mr. Randy Abbey disclosed that the GFA per a letter dated 9th July 2010, written to government through the Ministry of Youth and Sports informing government of the vacant CAF position and the decision to nominate the GFA President in that regard. According to Randy their outfit did that as a mark of respect to the government since the government is a shareholder and a financier to national team.

Randy said that on 13th July, 2010, the Sports Ministry replied per letter; reference NE. 115/174/01/01 informing the GFA of Government's support for Mr. Nyantakyi's candidature.

The Football Association then forwarded Mr. Nyantakyi's nomination to CAF, who has in return written back to acknowledge the receipt of the same. Mr. Randy Abbey said it was therefore unfortunate and clearly confusing that almost four months after agreeing to Mr. Nyantakyi’s candidature, the same government is ordering the GFA President to step aside for Abedi Pele to contest the vacant position.

Here is where the usual hypocrisy of Kwesi Pratt Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper is at its peak, Pratt, who was also a panelist on the same program, sought to question the wisdom in nominating the GFA President for the position at CAF considering the many portfolios he, Nyantakyi holds and responsibilities he shoulders. Therefore Pratt as usual with his hypocrisy opines that it would have been appropriate for someone else to be given the opportunity because Nyantakyi has many positions.

The fully emotionally charged hypocrite Kwesi Pratt continued to ask angrily; “is it only Kwesi Nyantakyi who can do that job? Are there not lots of qualified persons in this country?”

Randy Abbey in a quick reaction told Pratt, that government’s preferred choice Abedi Pele was an equally busy individual. “Besides, the Executive Committee of the GFA unanimously agreed that Kwesi Nyantakyi is best suited for the position.”

Abedi Pele who equally carries a lot of portfolios as a counter argument trashed Kwesi Pratt’s argument. Randy further pointed out to the Managing Editor of the Insight, Pratt, “you are also a multi-responsible person, you are a member of the Socialist Forum of Ghana, one of the leaders of the CJA, yet you find time to share your views on numerous radio stations as a panelist.” Would you say you are over-burdened so won't take up an appointment when it’s offered to you?
“Nyantakyi is a qualified and suitably qualified person at this point, so if you Pratt disagrees, that is your position and you cannot force it on everybody,” Mr. Abbey fumed.

Follow Ghanaians it is the highest time we must stopped playing politics and tribalism with everything; this is THIS IS NOT ABOUT A POLITICAL PARTY and not about Ghana alone but about a capable person to contest for Ghana on continental level, Confederation of African Football (CAF) Executive Committee.
Make the way free for Nyantakyi, the majority taste and choice of the Ghanaian people apart from the fact that he qualifies best. The Executive Committee of the GFA unanimously agreed that Kwesi Nyantakyi is best suited for the position. “NYANTAKYI IS THE MAN AND MUST GO FOR IT”!

FRANCIS TAWIAH (Duisburg – Germany)