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We’ve got to halt the early exits!
• Kurt Okraku – Ghana FA President
There were mixed feelings of potential accomplishment when Ghana’s national team, Black Stars, bade the nation farewell to embark for the 2022 Qatar World Cup tournament – still ongoing.
Some Ghanaians were fairly optimistic about the team’s adventure in their fourth Mundial – others were not, insisting the present Black Stars consisted of too many inexperienced players who would find the terrain too hot to handle.
Thus, essentially, many were told to manage their expectations.
What may have slightly raised the hopes of some Ghanaians was when the Stars comprehensively beat Switzerland 2-0 in their last preparatory game before departing for Qatar. Indeed, it was a compellingly magnificent performance and on the face of it, it was going to be difficult to totally write off the team at the tournament.
Ghana found itself in Group H alongside Portugal, South Korea and Uruguay. It was a tricky group though, and qualification was going to be one that deserved lots of fight, sweat, blood and sacrifice.
Question: Did the Black Stars fight hard enough? We shall come to that.
The Stars rolled off their campaign with a 2-3 loss to Portugal, a game that could have ended in a draw had the referee not gifted Cristiano Ronaldo an undeserved penalty after Mohammed Salisu’s innocuous challenge in the area. Stirring appeals from the players for the knight-of-the-whistle to consult VAR to check the authenticity of that lousy decision, fell on rocks.
It seems to be a huge plot that will never be overturned as Ronaldo proceeded to tuck it away, becoming the first player to score in five World Cup tournaments.
Spunkily, Ghana managed to put that defeat behind them, upstaging South Korea 3-2 on a frenetic night in their second game to bounce back into contention.
Ghana’s win catapulted them to second spot and needed to draw with Uruguay in the final group game to stand any chance of plucking a Round of 16 berth.
Uruguay, who had lost and drawn with Portugal and South Korea respectively, also had to chase victory against old foe Ghana with the Koreans given the more arduous hurdle of accounting for Portugal.
Believe it or not, South Korea put up a bigger-than-life performance to fetch the desired result over the Portuguese – beating them 2-1 on a memorable night to punch their way into the Round of 16 stage.
Sadly for Ghana, the Stars slumped 2-0 against Uruguay – skipper Andre Ayew having squandered a 21st minute penalty that could have galvanized the team to run their opponents rugged.
It was a revenge that never was, and many Ghanaians around the world felt the pain and anguish of being eliminated by a Luis Suarez-led side that did the unthinkable to Ghana some 12 years ago at the South Africa World Cup.
In that infamous game, Suarez callously ‘hand-volleyed’ out a goal-bound ball in the last seconds of their quarter-final game against Ghana for a penalty that forward Asamoah Gyan would go ahead to blow off.
An ensuing penalty shoot-out after extra-time did not also favour Ghana as the Stars were denied the glory of becoming the first African team to make it to the last-four berth of the World Cup.
It is the reason Ghanaians are saddened by the fact that yet again, Uruguay were responsible for their exit at the World Cup. Perhaps, the only semblance of revenge here is that in spite of the win, the Uruguayans could not progress; as they needed more than the two goals they scored, to sail through.
But on a more critical note, the Stars fail to glow in the Mundial as expected – and bowing out in the first round is not something we should be proud of at all. No matter how you look at it, they failed – and it is good they have apologized to the nation for the let-down.
Indeed, it is so sad that we have to embrace another calamitous first round exit at the World Cup – just like it happened in Brazil 2014, the last time we participated in the Mundial. This has to be halted!
From a modest Round of 16 start (Germany 2006) to a stunning quarter-finals (South Africa 2010), many predicted Ghana to make a brave crack at the World Cup coronet in the next decade or so – or possibly venture into the last-four. Forlornly, it is not what we are seeing now.
This year alone, we have been eliminated in the opening round of two major tournaments – the first being the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon, early January.
As one of the continent’s football powerhouses, this does not speak good of us at all. It is as if we are only interested in qualifying for major tournaments only to go and make the numbers. This must stop!
We should be competitive and be famished for honours – and this we can only achieve if we bury our self-interest and put the nation first above any other thing.
Fortunately, we have some great quality young players in this present Black Stars team which when well-harnessed and guided, could take the world by storm in subsequent tournaments.
It is not all bleak and despair; there is a glowing light at the end of the tunnel. But we must start working now if we are really desirous of halting this trend of disastrous first round eliminations.
By John Vigah
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Many SOEs have been used as mere instruments for personal wealth accumulation –Pres.Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has expressed concern over the misuse of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) for personal financial gain by individuals in leadership positions.
Speaking during a meeting with Chief Executives of specified entities under the State Interest and Governance Authority (SIGA) on Thursday, March 13, the President directly attributed the dire state of SOEs to their leadership, accusing chief executives, management teams, and governing boards of prioritising personal enrichment over organisational efficiency.
He pointed to bloated budgets, unjustified allowances, and unnecessary expenditures as factors draining public funds while SOEs continue to rely on government bailouts.
“Many SOEs have been used as mere instruments for personal wealth accumulation by appointees. The chief executives, management, and boards of these enterprises are responsible for this situation. Some SOEs have become perennial loss-makers, draining public funds with bloated budgets, unjustified allowances, and unnecessary expenditures while relying on government bailouts as if entitled to them. Many of these entities are at their lowest point in the entire history of the Fourth Republic,” he said.
President Mahama further noted that many SOEs have been plagued by inefficiencies, corruption, and mismanagement, leading to consistent financial losses. He cited the 2023 State Ownership Report by the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), which highlighted systemic inefficiencies and wasteful expenditures within these entities.
He therefore reaffirmed his commitment to reforming under-performing SOEs and ensuring they serve national interests.
He warned that loss-making SOEs will no longer be tolerated and will either be merged, privatised, or closed.
“I will assess you based on your performance. If you do not align with the pace of the reset agenda, you may be asked to step aside. If that adds to the horror movie, so be it,” he added.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
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Prophet Courage Heavens set to launch ‘Predestination’ book on March 23
Prophet Courage A. Heavens is set to launch the much-awaited book titled ‘Predestination’ on Sunday, March 23, 2025 at 5:00PM.
The launch, which is expected to impact lives, will take place at Crossgates Ministries, Flattop, off N1 Highway, opposite Angel Hauz.
The book is aimed at addressing the way people struggle to understand how free will and destiny align.
It is also aimed at providing clarity on God’s sovereignty and one’s place in His divine plan.
The various chapters of the book address various issues through scriptures and personal stories.
Committed to impacting society, part of the proceeds from the book will go into Courage Heavens Education Legacy (CHEL), an educational foundation transforming lives.
CHEL is dedicated to providing financial support and mentorship to brilliant but needy students, ensuring they have access to quality education and opportunities for a better future.
Prophet Courage Heavens is a prolific writer and previously authored Eli Eli Lama Sabachthani, a powerful book that encourages unwavering faith in times of trials.
In addition, he has written seven more prophetic and life-changing books that are yet to be published.
He is dedicated to raising the next generation for impactful ministry. As the leader of Crossgates Ministries, he nurtures believers in faith and purpose.
