Patch your differences GFA, Sports Minister

Sports Minister, Nii Lante Vanderpuye and GFA President, Kwesi Nyantakyi

A couple of weeks back, colleague journalist, Tophic Abdul Kadir Seinu posted on his Facebook wall a photo of Sports Minister, Nii Lante Vanderpuye and Ghana Football Association (GFA) President, Kwesi Nyantakyi that created a storm. To many, the picture, published with this article, summed up the tension brewing between the Minister and the GFA.

When I first saw it, I felt that indeed relations between the Minister and the FA President was indeed worsening as their facial expressions and the unoccupied seat in between them gave them away as people not on good terms. I shared the picture on my wall, writing that, with their sullen looks, they might have felt bad watching the Black Satellites fail in their bid to qualify for the African Youth Championship in their game against Senegal.

Commentaries on my post suggested to me as pretending not to know the rift between the Sports Minister and the GFA President. That was allowed but then I couldn’t have used that photo, taken at the VIP Stand of the newly built Cape Coast Sports Stadium, as the premise to conclude that, there’s uneasy calm between the Sports Minister and the GFA President.

Thank God the Minister subsequently came out, saying that, the picture actually gave the wrong impression since there was someone in between him and the GFA President; who was clearly not in his seat when the picture was being taken. The Minister’s explanation is fair. Yet it doesn’t negate the strong public perception that, his Ministry and the GFA have had differences over certain issues.

Numerous explanations have been given by the Minister on the issues that have divided them; particularly regarding the handling of the Black Stars – their friendly matches and the seemingly never-ending bonus matters. On the GFA’s side, spokesman, Ibrahim Sannie Daara and the admirable Vice President, George Afriyie have also been shedding light on the issues.

However, with new angles being introduced to the so-called rift every week, it’s all right to assume that, we may not have seen the end of this unhealthy conflict. Ghanaians don’t need the Sports Ministry and the GFA to be at loggerheads. I won’t go into what the issues seem to have set the Minister and GFA on ‘warpath’ but I say without fear or favour that, it’s not in Ghana’s interest to have the two bodies ‘fighting’ for instance over who owns the Black Stars.

Pardon my ignorance, if I’m being ill-informed but how can the senior national team or our national teams be owned by the GFA? How? At best, as the body mandated to manage the country’s football, the GFA, can only be managers of the national teams – not owners!

Ghana sports is faced with too many problems. Our football has its unique challenges. That’s why whether as the GFA or the Sports Ministry, time and attention should be devoted to solving these problems or challenges, not continuously arguing in the media over issues that shouldn’t take an hour to solve at the Board room.

I have liked the Sports Minister not only because I listened and loved his radio commentaries as a teenage football fan back in Koforidua but also because I have heard him speak with clearness besides acting with some forthrightness that have been missing in the management of the country’s sports for a long time. That’s why I will back him to be successful.

The Minister must however be cautious with his approach of clearing any mess in the system. Any obstinate posturing may not augur well for the good intents he has. In similar fashion, the GFA ought to show good faith and work together with the Minister. Differences the GFA have or the Minister has with the GFA must be resolved amicably behind closed doors.

Ghanaians deserve better from the Minister likewise the GFA. In a nut shell, neither the Minister nor the GFA can deny that, there have been disagreements over certain issues. This should be seen as natural in any human institution and worked at. The last thing Ghana needs is this rift. It’s important that the Minister and the GFA mend their broken paths. Their raging fight is truly unwarranted.