President of the Ghana Rugby Union, Herbert Mensah has advised the newly elected president of the Ghana Football Association, Kurt Okraku, to surround himself with the “right” and “impeccable” people in order to bring confidence into the game and ensure success.
Asking Ghanaians to exercise patience for the new president, he also urged him to let past events guide him into putting in place structures that would guarantee success.
Mr. Mensah said this in a congratulatory message to Mr. Okraku via video. The chief executive of Dream FC was elected president of GFA in a hotly contested election on Friday, October 25, 2019.
“The transparency you bring will give everybody confidence, that we see where the money is going and how it’s being used for the development of the Ghana, nobody will begrudge you becoming wealthier in spirit and materially,” Mr. Mensah pointed out.
“But the key is that you must give us confidence, and confidence will come from you leadership, understanding that what happened in the past, cannot happen in the future. Embrace the people around you, and give people understanding that Ghana comes first, the image and optics of what Ghana is about is key in everything. If you do that I am sure big business will follow, it won’t be the GNPC just giving money.”
He reiterated the need for Mr. Okraku to bring on board good people in Ghana football to assist him, because “structures around him have got be impeccable and committees must be manned by the right people”.
The President of Ghana Rugby Union also brought Mr. Okraku’s attention to the fact that, “we in rugby and from my time in Kotoko, we say that, the key to us is not kicking the ball into the net, but putting together the structures that you win off the field, and winning off the field ensure that you are winning on the field”.
He further noted, “Success will ultimately be measured in different ways, to the naïve would be what you will do in the nations cup and world cup. To those who understand administration, understand the structures put in place for success, permanent success, not a one off success, closest to the end of your tenure or even for somebody else to benefit after you leave, but we serve Ghana and that is what is critically important.”
Mr. Mensah also asked the GFA president to prepare a thick skin to endure all sort of criticisms because not everyone would agree with him, but “the key is you are working for Ghana, Ghana is not working for you”.
By Isaac Essel | 3news.com | Ghana