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Black Stars, a team in crisis (Final part)
Richmond Lamptey was one of the three local players
invited to the camp but did not kick a ball
In fact, he created the half-baked chances to score the two goals that at different times gave Ghana the lead against the Egyptians.
Same could be said about Jordan Ayew with the composure with which he executed the two penalties under the kind of pressure on the team.
Sadly, the Black Stars was let down by errors that would not be tolerated at academy or colt level of football; and it made one wonder where the team’s concentration was.
With a second debacle fully orchestrated purely by a squad built around foreign based players, it should revive the Black Stars technical team’s assessment of the locally-based players who are so used to the African terrain.
Now that Ghana’s dwindling fortunes have become apparent in the face of a period of over- reliance on foreign based players, it must kick-start a strong campaign to start a Bukhard Ziese kind of national team where the focus would be on players in the national league.
A section of football people would always kick against this idea with the reason that they lack exposure and all manner of things.
When the likes of Emmanuel Armah, Emmanuel Ampiah, Frimpong Manso, Nii Darko Ankrah, Frank Amankwah, Ali Ibrahim and others were proud product of the local league they were given the opportunity and indeed, they shone.
Ghanaians are fed up with this inconsistencies with the Black Stars. And it appears there is no solution to it because those in charge appear lost over the real causes just like the fans.
Like Samuel Eto’O was reported to have addressed the Indomitable Lions of Cameroun after walking a path similar to the Stars, some of the players must be told in plain language that their output is not satisfactory.
They must be made aware of the challenges that come with playing for Ghana. They must be willing to die for the nation just like soldiers do in war. They must be made to understand that their jersey with the Black Stars embossed on it is our pride and for that matter, mediocrity is unacceptable.
That makes the call by the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, of plans to build a new Black Stars team around homegrown footballers if he’s elected President in the 2024 elections very gratifying.
“We just came from the Africa Cup of Nations, and we performed abysmally. We performed abysmally because we are not growing our football,” the former president observed, according to a report published by Myjoyonline.com.
“Before we used to have the colts and every district used to organise its colts’ league and they picked the prominent players from there. We used to have the academicals where the schools played against each other and we picked the promising players from there before we come to U-17 and then all the other age groups. Unfortunately, all that has collapsed and so we are going to work with the Football Association to start catching them young so that we can train them and give them to local teams to get experience.”
“We will build a new Black Stars based on homegrown players, domestic players who have trained together for a long term and work as a team and then we bring the foreign ones to blend with them. The core of the Black Stars must be made up of domestic players who have played together for a long term, we keep camping them and they keep practicing together. So when it’s time for a competition we can bring some of the foreign players to join the domestic ones and you’ll see that we will have a better team.”
“We are going to overhaul Ghana football in collaboration with the Ghana Football Association and all the football associations from the district coming up you’re going to be busy because we will send you resources so that you can hold football galas in your districts to identify the players for us,” said former president Mahama.
As football fanatics with the progress of the sport at heart, this should rather be the focus of all.
Why this concept appears unrealistic to those in the helm of affairs beats one’s imagination, considering the fact that the AFCON success we boast of as a nation were chalked by locals.
Over the years, the home-grown stars that have shown greater commitment and dedication to duty have been sidelined, with all the attention shifted on the foreign based but with nothing to show for.
If it is not a pure political rhetoric, then it will be the way to salvage the free fall of football in Ghana.
It is the fervent hope of majority of fans that the FA wholeheartedly support this course that also has the tendency to revolutionise the local game; with players knowing that a good performance from wherever they are could earn them a place in the national team.
Ghanaians must be made to feel part of the team. The current trend where it looks like the FA forces what they like through their throats must end. We need the Black Stars back but certainly not in this shape.
By Andrew Nortey
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GEXIM to host “SME GO” programme stakeholder sensitisation and fair on September 18
The Ghana Export – Import Bank (GEXIM) in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ghana Enterprises Agency and Development Bank of Ghana will be hosting the final phase of the stakeholder sensitisation exercise on the Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Growth and Opportunity (SME GO) Programme at the Bank’s headquarters located at the Africa Trade House, in Accra.
The stakeholder sensitisation event is scheduled to take place on Wednesday SSeptember18, 2024 at 10 am and will give attendees a deeper insight into the SME GO Programme with a focus on the dynamics of the programme, eligibility criteria application process and how the initiative seeks to assist Ghanaian SMEs to scale up and compete favorably in the international marketplace.
The confirmed speakers and dignitaries for the event will highlight how Ghanaian SMEs can leverage on the SME GO Programme to build the capacities and make them sustainable.
They include Hon. Abena Osei-Asare, Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Hon. K. T. Hammond, Minister of Trade and Industry, Hon. Nii Kwartei Titus Glover, Greater Accra Regional Minister as well as the Chief Executive Officers of the Ghana Enterprises Agency and Development Bank of Ghana.
Alongside the stakeholder sensitisation event, GEXIM will be hosting a special edition of its popular SME Fair dubbed “SME GO Mart” at the forecourt of the Africa Trade House, from 8am to 8pm.
The theme for the “SME GO Mart” is “Celebrating Ghanaian SMEs” and it will provide a platform for Ghanaian entrepreneurs to showcase various top-quality Made-In-Ghana products.
Over hundred Ghanaian entrepreneurs with unique products have been confirmed to participate in the fair.
They will be exhibiting several unique and authentic products at unbeatable prices including food and ingredients, beverages, skin and beauty care products, textiles, apparel, garments, leather footwear, slippers, and many others.
In July 2024, the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Finance launched the SME GO Programme, a ground breaking initiative which sought to provide Ghanaian SMEs with the needed funds, requisite technology and knowledge as well as other relevant resources and tools to aid their growth to become international giants.
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Zipline, GHS reduce maternal mortality in Ashanti Region by 56.4% – Study
A recent impact assessment study on aerial logistics to improve maternal health and emergencies has revealed a remarkable reduction in maternal mortality by 56.4% in Ghana’s Ashanti Region, thanks to the collaborative efforts of Zipline and the Ghana Health Service (GHS).
This was revealed at the National Ghana Health Service Research Conference organized by the Ghana Health Service in partnership with Zipline. The study, which focused on the impact of aerial logistics in healthcare, also noted a 19.9% increase in antenatal visits and a 25% rise in in-facility births, signaling a significant boost in maternal health outcomes.
The success according to the study is attributed to the on-demand availability of blood and essential medical supplies provided by Zipline’s innovative drone delivery system. This consistent access to critical resources has increased patient confidence in the healthcare system, encouraging more mothers to seek necessary care throughout their pregnancies.
Speaking on the highlight of the study, the Research Officer at Ashanti Regional Health Directorate stated, “the significant decrease in maternal mortality we’ve seen is a clear indication of the vital role that reliable access to medical supplies plays in healthcare. The ability to deliver blood and essential medicines exactly when they’re needed has transformed how mothers in the Ashanti Region perceive and engage with the healthcare system.”
“It’s an achievement that speaks to the importance of introducing technology in healthcare delivery. Mothers now feel more confident in seeking care, knowing that they will receive the support they need throughout their pregnancies,”he stated.
The study examined data from 191 health facilities, including hospitals, health centers, and Community-based Health and Planning Services (CHPS) Compounds. Among these, 99 facilities were served by Zipline’s aerial logistics, while 91 were not. The research employed adjusted rates for various key indicators, such as antenatal consultations, emergency visits, referrals, live births, hysterectomies, maternal deaths, and neonatal deaths, as the main dependent variables.
The qualitative aspect of the study aimed to describe and analyze the changes in satisfaction levels among healthcare providers and patients, perceived quality of care in maternal health and emergencies, and experiences related to the use of aerial logistics. In-depth interviews were conducted with 22 patients and 23 healthcare providers at the participating facilities.
Globally, maternal mortality remains a critical public health challenge, with stark disparities between high-income and low-to-middle-income countries (LMICs).
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the majority of maternal deaths occur in LMICs, often due to preventable causes. In Ghana, particularly in the Ashanti Region, the problem is critical, reflecting the broader challenges faced across the African continent. Beyond this, socio-economic, geographic, and infrastructural factors intensify the risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth, highlighting the urgent need for innovative solutions to improve maternal health outcomes.
As maternal mortality continues to pose a challenge in low-to-middle-income countries, the success seen in Ghana’s Ashanti Region offers a promising model for other regions and nations striving to improve maternal health outcomes through innovative solutions.
Zipline is poised to continue leading the way in revolutionizing healthcare delivery, ensuring that every mother has access to the life-saving resources, no matter where she lives.
