The Sports Minister of Ghana, Honourable Clement Kofi Humado has assured his FA president Kwesi Nyantakyi of government’s 100% backing as he goes into the Caf elections on Tuesday. The member of parliament for Anlo gave the assurance in a telephone chat from his office in Accra.
A catalogue of domestic assignments and meetings means that the Sports Minister would be unable to make a personal appearance at the 33rd ordinary Congress of CAF in Khartoum. The timing of his sensible endorsement would further accelerate the healing process between the FA and government as well as enhancing the belief that maturity and mutual respect will return to the wider sports agenda.
Relations between the Ghana FA and government had hit an all time low following a series of news paper revelations and widespread allegations of corruption at the FA.
However the public backlash that followed a raid on the premises of the FA by the country’s anti graft agency, forced the sports minister at the time to counter suggestions that government had a hand in the incident.
The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) justified it’s raid saying it sought documents on sponsorship agreements for investigations.
Since then, some individuals in government suspected of being the masterminds behind the anti GFA/Nyantakyi campaign have increasingly been isolated.
In a further boost last month, Ghana vice-president John Dramani Mahama also emphatically endorsed the 43 year old’s candidature.
“I am told that African Football chiefs will be meeting in Sudan next month to elect members into the CAF executive position
and I find it heartwarming that our very own Kwesi Nyantakyi will be contested for the post.
I want to urge all the 20 presidents of the various countries to vote massively for him and God will bless you’’.
With those words, the country’s number two man finally put to rest the perceived tension between the government and the GFA paving the way for a final lap of sustained but low profile campaigning around the African continent.
Storming Sudan to plug any potential potholes, is Nyantakyi’s Gambian campaign manager Seedy Kinteh. The charismatic head of the Gambian FA believes that although the Ghanaian is clear favourite to win his vote, there will be no room for complacency.
‘‘With the knowledge of firm backing from my colleagues around the continent, we are confident. But as in a game of football, you have to play to the rules so we will keep campaigning until the day of voting’’
Credit: Yaw Ampofo Ankrah in Sudan
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