Sports Minister, FA boss descend on Media
By: Kofi Owusu Aduonum
Hon. Akua Sena Dansua, Sports Minister (left), Mr. Kwasi Nyantakyi, GFA president (right)
The Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Akua Sena Dansua has blamed the downward trend of the local league on the media.
To the Sports Minister, the over concentration on the foreign leagues to the detriment of the Glo Premier league by the media, is what is affecting the local game.
Addressing the media at the “Meet the Press” series at the Information Ministry conference room yesterday, Hon. Dansua noted that: “Some media houses devote their prime air time to discuss foreign sports, to the detriment of our local sports.”
The President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Mr. Kwasi Nyantakyi joined the Sports Minister’s call to castigate the media for their over-concentration on the foreign leagues, to the neglect of the local premier league.
He pointed out those most Ghanaian sports journalists could mention the starting eleven of Manchester United effortlessly, but will struggle to mention five players from Wa All Stars, RTU or Sekondi Eleven Wise.
The two sports heavyweights appealed to the media to allot some time to discuss the local league, to push it a step further.
Reacting to the GOC-IOC impasse, Hon Dansua admitted that it was a challenge she inherited on assumption of office, but gave the assurance that her Ministry has put measures in place to resolve the stalemate.
“I have made several attempts in collaboration with all interested parties, including the IOC, to find an amicable solution to the problem,” said Hon Dansua.
Recounting the exploits of the various national associations, especially that of the Black Stars, Black Satellites, the junior Black Sticks and the Black Bombers, among others, Hon. Dansua justified government’s decision to send 1,500 soccer fans to the World Cup in South Africa.
According to the Minister, dividends that will accrue to the nation cannot be quantified in monetary terms.
She assigned the delay of the Sports Bill on stakeholders who request for it, anytime it was ready for presentation to Cabinet.
Mr. Nyantakyi mentioned that his outfit is embarking on a programme that will see coaches like Maxwell Konadu, Kwasi Appiah and others join foreign clubs for attachment exercises, to the benefit of the various national teams.
He gave the assurance that very soon Ghana will have a pool of local coaches with modern technical know-how to handle the national teams.
Responding to the player exodus scenario that creeps into the local league from time to time, Mr. Nyantakyi admitted that it is a canker, but nothing could be done to curb it, since it will amount to infringing on peoples’ rights of movement.
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