Sports
Lepowura Jawula will be missed!
• Lepowura Jawula – A fallen colossus
Precisely a week ago, one of the nation’s and undeniably Africa’s finest football administrators – Lepowura Alhaji MND Jawula, passed on to eternity and was laid to rest 24 hours later in line with Islamic traditions.
The former Ghana Football Association (GFA) boss (1997-2001) gave up the ghost in the United States where he had gone to seek further medical care, having battled a bout of ailment for a while in Ghana.
His expiration came as a huge shock to Ghanaians, especially when he even granted interviews after the Black Stars’ star-crossed campaign at the Qatar 2022 World Cup tournament that ended just last month.
For many, the iconic football figure – and prince of the Gonjaland, would not only be remembered for the rotund voice bottled up in his frame, but for his ability to quickly think outside the box to proffer practical solutions.
It was the chief reason the Confederation of African Football (CAF), especially during the reign of Issa Hayatou (1988 and 2017), would always put him on a committee or two, expecting him to use his vast experience to put things right.
The charismatic Lepowura Jawula is regarded as one of the marquee names in football administration, having chaired the Black Starlets team that won gold at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Ecuador ‘95.
His rule as GFA boss saw the Starlets also finish second and third at the Egypt ‘97 and New Zealand ‘99 World Cup tournaments respectively.
Aside a sundry of positions he once occupied in the game, the 74-year-old Jawula was the chairman of the Ghana Premier League (GPL) Management Committee, and board member of Real Tamale United (RTU) – a club’s whose return to elite football in 2001 he spearheaded – after eight years in the doldrums.
Indeed, even before his passing, Lepowura was a member of the CAF Inter Club Committee – having served as a CAF match commissioner and many other portfolios for several years.
In other aspects of life, those who have walked close to him would tell you how deeply they drank from his reservoir of experience, wealth of knowledge and free-flowing philanthropic nature.
Incontestably, he was the kind who would always advise you to sprint beyond the normal distance, challenge yourself and dash for the jugular whenever the opportunity presents itself.
On two occasions (2008 and 2020), he was at this writer’s book launch as chairman, an invitation he accepted with no strings attached – encouraging him to publish more of such literatures “because tomorrow is not for us.”
Though extremely jovial, he was not the kind of man you could take for granted – as he would stoically hold his ground once he knew he was on the right track.
Today, the tender remains of Jawula – the Lepowura of the Kujolobito Gate of Lepo-Kpembe in the Kpembi Traditional Area in Gonjaland, Northern Region, lie in the bowels of Nashville, in United States of America.
You will be sorely missed, Lepowura. Rest well, King Lepo!
By John Vigah
Sports
Bawumia Has Good Ideas And Programmes For Ghana, Not 24-Hour Discos– Pres Akufo-Addo
The President of the Republic Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is confident that Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia remains best qualified on our political market to lead the country into the much desired fourth industrial revolution.
According to the President, who is currently on a two-day visit of the Northern, North East and Savanna regions, Dr. Bawumia has been well prepared, and he is now ready to become President.
Whilst asking for the support and effort of the Nayiri and the people of Mamprugu for their son, the Vice President, President Akufo-Addo said, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is a man of good ideas and good programmes for the country.
“He is not proposing 24-hour discotheques. He is the man best qualified to lead Ghana into the fourth industrial revolution. So I want us to work together make sure he becomes the next president of this country,” he said.
Establishing the premise of his remarks, President Akufo-Addo said he is asking for the support not just because he is a son of Mampruguland, but because, “Dr Bawumia is extremely competent, fit and able to be our next President.
“I’ve worked with him for these past sixteen years and apart from being capable, competent and intellectually well-endowed, he is also a man of great loyalty, principled and honest. I am confident that if the people of Ghana agree with me and give him the chance, he will make an excellent President,” he added.
He was confident that if Ghanaians agree with him, and give Dr Bawumia the chance, “he will make an excellent President.”
According to him “Like all big Chiefs get concerned about matters relating to who succeeds them the person who will occupy your seat after you, the difference between us is that you will never know who will follow you, but in my case, I will know who will follow me.”
“Because you are a monarch and you will reign until you die, its only after your death that your successor is chosen, but I am a republican and democratic Chief, and I know who will succeed me. So I’ve come here to ask for your support to make sure that your son, my Vice President, Mahamudu Bawumia succeeds me,” he concluded.
Sports
Appiah Kubi named Ex-National Goalkeepers Union best Premier League goalkeeper for September
Medeama SC’s Appiah Kubi has been named September’s Goalkeeper of the Month, recognizing his outstanding performances in the Ghana Premier League’s opening round.
The talented shot-stopper achieved two clean sheets in three consecutive Premier League victories during September.
Notably, Kubi is the first Medeama SC goalkeeper to receive this award since the 2023/24 season.
The shot stopper will receive a pair of gloves, branded towel, water bottles and T-shirt from the Ex- National Goalkeepers Union (NEGU).
