How much was involved in Ghana’s friendly match with Namibia on November 24, 2018? This is a valid question to ask. It’s one question, which shouldn’t be difficult to answer.
Months back, under the disgraced Kwesi Nyantatkyi administration, many of us legitimately questioned how much the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MOYs) were taking for the national teams’ friendlies.
That time, the impression was that, the GFA, for example, was making so much money from Black Stars’ friendly matches but proper disclosures weren’t made regarding monies paid to the association. Legitimate questions of accountability were asked but they weren’t always answered satisfactorily.
A lot has happened since June. It’s trite to continue recounting the issues of #12 but note issues relating to transparency and accountability. The demands that were made of the fallen Kwesi Nyantakyi administration on transparency and accountability are still relevant today.
Same demands must be made of the Dr. Kofi Amoah-led Normalisation Committee. In fact, equal demands must be made of the MOYs. That’s why questions flying over how much was involved in the November 24 friendly match between Black Stars B and Namibia are right. We need answers.
This was a game sanctioned by the Normalisation Committee of the GFA. It was a game also approved by the MOYs. As a result, questions on accountability and transparency, should fairly and squarely be put at the doorsteps of the Normalisation Committee and the MOYS.
The match, which was played at the Sam Nujoma Stadium, Windhoek, was in honour of Namibia’s President, Hage Gottfried Geingob. The Black Stars B drew 1-1 with the Brave Warriors of Namibia before losing 4-1 on penalties. The Hage Gottfried Geingob is played annually. In 2017, Namibia won it, beating Zimbabwe 3-1.
It’s not possible that, Ghana trekked to Namibia to play the match on gratis. Assuming without admitting that Ghana played the match for free, it’s only proper that, Ghanaians know that. I’m not after anyone but if accountability demands in the previous administration were genuine, the quest to know the financial details of the Namibia friendly should as well be seen as sincere.
It’s in the nation’s interest to reveal the financial details of the Namibia friendly. It’s in the interest of transparency and accountability that, those details are made public. So, I also ask: How much was involved in the Namibia friendly? We have to know.
Source: jeromeotchere.com