Sports
Sound Financial Management crucial for success of Football – Mark Addo
Vice President Mark Addo has urged Member Associations participating in the ongoing FIFA Financial Governance Workshop to prioritize accountability, transparency, and integrity.
Speaking on the first day of the workshop in Accra, Addo stressed that sound financial management is crucial for the success of football.
As Chairman of the Finance Committee, Addo’s remarks underscore the importance of responsible financial governance in ensuring the long-term viability of football organizations.
‘’Over the next three days, we will embark on a journey to deepen our understanding of financial governance, a cornerstone of integrity, accountability, and transparency in football’’ Vice President Mark Addo said.
‘’As we all know, football is more than just a sport. It is a global force that unites people, communities, and nations. But for the game to thrive, especially off the pitch, sound financial management is non-negotiable. This workshop reflects FIFA’s commitment to equipping us with the tools and expertise needed to safeguard the resources that sustain football’s growth’’.
‘’In Ghana, we have made strides in strengthening governance through modern auditing practices, robust financial systems, and fostering trust among our stakeholders’’ he added.
The Member Associations participating in the workshop include host Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Cape Verde, The Gambia, and Kenya.
The FIFA team of experts is led by Christopher Suppiger, Head of Financial Governance, Lucca Piazza, Director, Reforms Implementation, Meryem Atouk, FIFA’s Finance Services Manager; Andrea Portabella, Senior Capacity Development and Education Manager; Silmara Sousa, FIFA Regional Coordinator for Africa; and Raissa Toure, FIFA Division Office Coordinator.
The Ghana Football Association is represented by General Secretary Prosper Harrison Addo (Esq.), Chief Finance Officer Collins Dei, Joyce Asare, and Saiyida Maryam Siba, Head of Financial Reporting.
Maxwell Caesar Kemeh, a top-level administrator at the Competitions Department, serves as the Local Liaison Officer for the Workshop.
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.
