Sports
Hope new Sports Minister live by his word
In a few days, Ghana will have a new sports minister in the person of Mustapha Yusif, who is billed to take over from Isaac Kwame Asiamah, after a seemingly imposing performance during his vetting last week.
Asiamah is regarded as the people’s man and was expected to be retained for the next four years; and that would have been some fine record – but things did not go as envisaged. He had to settle for a term.
Indeed, only Enoch Teye Mensah (1993-2001) lasted two terms, and he was the longest serving. Interestingly, since the exit of ET, Asiamah is the only one to have finished his term. All others were blown off – sometimes in humiliatingly whirlwind fashions.
The shortest stay for any sports minister in Ghana was a month (February 14-March 14, 2001) – and it dangled the way of Mallam A.Y Isa after a supposed scandal.
Whilst Ghanaians await the approval of Yusif, it is the expectation of many that the incoming Sports Minister continues with the laudable infrastructural development across the country by his predecessor.
Ghana needs the sports facilities badly, especially when the nation is feverishly preparing to host the 2023 African Games for the first time.
Without any scintilla of doubt, putting up infrastructure is the surest way to harness and churn out talents – talents from the less-endowed disciplines, into future world beaters.
As he promised at his vetting, Yusif should do everything in his power to promote and develop the less-financed sport disciplines like weightlifting.
Weightlifting, for instance, clinched as many as eight of the 13 medals won for the nation at the last African Games in Morocco; yet continues to elicit negligible financial backing from government!
At a time that football’s passion continues to bulldoze its way in its quest to have the bigger chunk of the sports budget, the new sports minister would really have a lot on hand to chew.
If we consider the fact that sports have the potential of reducing the rising unemployment rate in the country, we do not need to be told that we have to invest in other areas aside football – which admittedly, is the passion of the nation.
There are thousands of talents in the so-called lesser-known sports, but have we considered what their future would be like when we fail to unearth and polish them up?
Come to think of it, once these fine talents decide to give up and throw their hands up at the snafu situation, they are likely to become millstones around the neck of society. What would happen next to them, one cannot tell.
Hope the incoming minister, who is former Executive Secretary of the National Service Secretariat and Member of Parliament for Yagaba Kubore in the North-East Region, knows the situation all-too well, to put in place the right measures and salvage the future of such talents.
He must be on the qui-vive and live by his word of supporting the ‘small sports’ to grow. Ghanaians will be watching with eagle eyes. We wish him well.
CAPTION:
Yusif – Set to succeed Asiamah
Sports
Kurt E.S Okraku elected CAF Executive Committee member
The President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, has been successfully elected as a member of the Executive Committee (EXCO) of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The four-year term runs from 2025-2029.
The President, who was elected uncontested, joins the 24-member committee of the powerful body of the continent’s governing body.
Kurt Okraku’s election to the CAF Executive Committee comes as recognition of his remarkable leadership at the Football Association, where he has worked to rejuvenate Ghanaian football since taking office in 2019.
His efforts to enhance transparency, promote grassroots football, women’s football and focus on youth development have been well noted within the African football community.
With Ghana’s strong footballing tradition and legacy, the presence of the GFA boss on the CAF EXCO is seen as an opportunity to advance the interests of the country and help promote football development across Africa.
Mr. Okraku’s role will give Ghana a stronger voice in the decision-making processes that shape the future of football on the continent.
President Simeon-Okraku becomes the sixth Ghanaian to serve on the CAF Executive Committee in a list that includes Ohene Djan, Kobina Hagan, Nana Fredua Mensah, Samuel Okyere, and Kwesi Nyantakyi.
Sports
GFA concludes training of Club Safety and Security Officers and Regional Sports Security Officers
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has successfully concluded its training program for Club Safety and Security Officers (CSSOs) and Regional Sports Security Officers (RSSOs).
This comprehensive training, which took place from March 7 to March 10, 2025, aimed to throw more light on the enhance safety and security measures across Ghanaian football.
The training was conducted zonally, covering all 86 elite clubs and 16 regions. Participants were divided into three zones, with Zone 2 covering the Ashanti, Western, Western North, and Central Regions, and Zones 1 and 3 covering the remaining regions.
The training modules included:
Challenges of Safety and Security in Ghana: Identifying and addressing key safety and security concerns in Ghanaian football.
Roles of the Club Safety and Security Officer (CSSO) and collaboration with Regional Safety and Security Officers (RSSO): Defining the roles and responsibilities of CSSOs and RSSOs, and promoting effective collaboration between them.
Club Safety and Security Officer Checklist: Providing a comprehensive checklist for CSSOs to ensure that all safety and security protocols are in place.
Introduction to the Enhanced Safety and Security Protocols 2025: Introducing new safety and security protocols aimed at improving safety and security at match venues.
Practicum and scenario session: Providing hands-on training and scenario-based exercises to prepare participants for real-world safety and security challenges.
The training workshop was led by DCOP Lydia Donkor, Chairperson of the Security Committee. Others included Capt (Rtd) Nick Owusu, Vice Chairman of the Safety Committee, Julius Ben Emunah, Head of Competitions, John Ansah, Felix Bewu and Emmanuel Osei, members of the Safety and Security Committee.
This training is part of the GFA’s enhanced approach to ensuring improved safety and security at match venues across all competitions.
