Tag: GFA

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) on August 25, organised a training workshop for selected Match Commissioners as part of preparations towards the 2022/2023 betPawa Premier League season.

The Commissioners were taken through the use of the competition management system (CMS) and their key responsibilities.

The moderators educated the participants on how to conduct technical meetings and report writing, amendment to the laws of the game.

Match Commissioners were also entreated to adhere to GFA statutes and regulations and Integrity values.

Speaking at the training course, President of the Ghana Football Association, Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku said the work of Match Commissioners are very important to the success of competitions of the Association hence the comprehensive workshop.

He spoke extensively on amendments to the Laws of the Game, Report Writing, the Role of the modern Match Commissioner and how to conduct a successful Technical Meeting.

The 2022/23 betPawa Premier League starts on September 9, 2022.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has unveiled Malta Guinness as the official sponsor of the Women’s Premier League.

Ghana’s biggest non-alcoholic brewed malt beverage is providing a sponsorship worth GHS10 million for period of three years, starting 2022/2023 season.

GFA President, Kurt Okraku, describing the agreement as a landmark, said the Association is committed to growing the sport.

He entreated other institutions to emulate the gesture by Malta Guinness.

“I am filled with joy announcing this landmark agreement with Malta Guinness. I would like to thank the management of Guinness Ghana for believing in my leadership and choosing to work with us. The Ghana Football Association will continue to project our brands to make it attractive to corporate Ghana and the world at large,” he said.

He added: “I am filled with joy announcing this landmark agreement with Malta Guinness. I would like to thank the management of Guinness Ghana for believing in my leadership and choosing to work with us. In passing, I want to call on other companies to emulate this example and come on board to help develop and grow the sport.”

According to Mr Okraku, the Ghana Football Association will continue to project its brands to make them attractive to corporate Ghana and the world at large.

On her part, Marketing Director of Guinness Ghana, Estella Muzito, said the decision to sponsor the Women’s Premier League in Ghana is in line with the company’s mission to fuel a world of good.

She said “Football in Ghana is an incredible unifier which connects people from all walks of life, daily. From the street corners to the hallways of big corporates, football conversations and matches bring joy and inspire greatness among people.”

“Women’s football has in recent years taken its much-deserved place as a premium sporting spectacle which attracts thousands of fans and supporters,” the Marketing Director added.

Estella Muzito said Malta Guinness will refresh the incredibly talented women who play the game, the officials, the Football Association and the fans.

Corporate Relations Director of Guinness Ghana, Sylvia Owu-Asunkomah said Guinness Ghana has a long-standing history of supporting football in the country.

“Today, we are excited to yet again, chart a new partnership with the GFA with this agreement to are committed to the progressive portrayal of women across all spheres of life and this sponsorship with our premium brewed nonalcoholic brand, Malta Guinness, is just one of the ways to illustrate that commitment,” she said.

She added that “As a business committed to championing inclusion and diversity across our entire business, we want to ensure that culture permeates every aspect of our communities and sports. This partnership is the ideal opportunity to offer our women athletes the platform to showcase their greatness and can-do spirit; an ideal that drives at the core of what Malta Guinness is.”

Communication Director for the Ghana Football Association [GFA] Henry Asante Twum was robbed in his home on Monday dawn.

The unfortunate incident happened took place whiles the former Starr FM sports journalist was asleep.

Valuable items taken away by the robbers are money, travelling passport, laptop, and other items.

“They made away with my laptop, passport, money, and other personal belongings but not my life,” he posted on his Facebook page.

“Unleash your dogs if you have one, put on the alarm when you park your car because we live in a crazy world. This too shall pass!!!!

He is however expected to travel with the Black Stars team to South Africa today for the team AFCON qualifier against the Bafana Bafana.

Henry Asante Twum was appointed as the head of Communication at the Ghana FA after Kurt Okraku was elected as the President of the Ghana FA.

Source: Football Ghana

The future of Ghana Football Association boss, Kurt Okraku could be thrown wide opened if Wilfred Osei Kweku “Palmer” wins his landmark case against the association at the Court of Arbitration for Sport on September, 1.

If Palmer’s reliefs are granted by the world sport court on September 1, it will essentially collapse the 10-month presidency of the former Dreams FC Executive chairman.

Okraku coasted to a sweet victory in the presidential election back in October last year after a rigorous campaign.

But his young administration could be scuttled if Palmer becomes successful at the global tribunal.

The Ghana FA boss could face another bout of a laborious re-election bid if the association losses the case at CAS.

However, these are ifs and buts with the much-anticipated verdict expected to put to bed the long-winding battle that has rocked the GFA before Mr. Okraku assumed the top position.

Palmer dragged the defunct normalisation committee to CAS for an unfair and “calculated” disqualification from the presidential race.

The verdict has a far-reaching implication for both parties with CAS set to announce the ruling today September 1, after postponing it twice.

There are two things likely to happen – CAS to throw out the case and allow the status quo to remain or order for a re-run of the election if it was deemed the plaintiff was unfairly disqualified from the race.

These are frenetic times for the followers of both disqualified aspirant Wilfred Osei Kweku and current FA boss Kurt Okraku.

Palmer dragged the FA to the apex of world sports court after he was disqualified from contesting the 2019 Presidential race by the defunct normalisation committee.

CAS will announce the decision whether to uphold Palmer’s quest to annul the election and order for fresh polls to decide on a new President for the GFA or allow the status quo to remain.

The situation has put the presidency of Kurt Okraku on the line with wide-reaching implications if Palmer becomes successful.

The ruling from CAS will put to rest months of intense anxiety involving all the principal actors.

Source: Ghana Soccernet

On Tuesday August 25, 2020, the Ghana Football Association announced its decision to use $290,000 from its development money from FIFA to buy desktop computers, printers, scanners and also get internet connectivity for Premier League Clubs, Division One Clubs, Women’s Premier League Clubs and the RFA’s.

In this internet and digital age, it is a good step that the GFA intends to equip its members to enhance digital operations and the Loop fully supports.

However, the money which the leadership of the GFA has announced to the world, as having set aside to purchase these items is mind-boggling and outrageous to say the least.

$290,000 US Dollars, on an approximate exchange rate of 6 cedis to a dollar, amounts to a whopping GH 1,740,000, that is one million, seven hundred and forty Ghana Cedis. For those who still do your calculations in the old cedis, that is over 17 billion old cedis.

Yes, you read right! The GFA says it is setting aside this outrageous amount to buy just 92 desktop computers, 92 printers, 92 scanners, as well as internet connectivity for the list of beneficiaries stated above (16 premier clubs, 48 division clubs, 16 women’s premier league clubs and 10 RFAs, totalling 92).

MARKET VALUE VRS GFA’s MIND-BOGGLING $290,000

A critical research into market values of the prices for desktop computers, printers, scanners and internet connectivity will reveal an outrageous disparity between what the GFA intends to spend and market value.

Indeep, the Loop was shocked to the marrow when it checked the prices of these items on the market.

DESKTOP COMPUTER:

A good HP desktop computer on the market ranges from 2000 Cedis upwards. Let us assume the GFA will go for a high spec at GH 5000 per computer. Multiply that by 92 and you get 460,000 Cedis.

PRINTERS:

Modern printers now come with scanners, so one will expect that the GFA will go for one that can serve dual purpose. But assuming the GFA wants to buy separately, good printers on the market for ranges from 300 cedis. But let’s say the GFA will even buy the printer at GH1,000 cedis. That will be a total of 92,000 Cedis.

SCANNERS

As I said, good and modern printers come with scanners. But let’s assume the GFA will buy separate scanners. Good scanners are also very affordable on the market, and as I checked, they range from as low as 300 Cedis. But let’s say the GFA will buy it 1000 Cedis each. That will be another 92,000 Cedis.

INTERNET CONNECTIVITY

I don’t know what sort of internet connectivity the GFA wants to get for the clubs and the RFA’s, but whatever it is, it certainly can’t exceed a certain reasonable figure. We all use Internet in our homes and offices and we have an idea of the cost of it, including fixed broadband.

TOTAL COST OF EQUIPMENT

From the above, the total cost of all the equipment, in my high estimation (I went for high prices) is incredibly far lower than $290,000 US Dollars the GFA leadership wants to spend.

The cost of the 92 computers at 5000 Cedis each, 92 printers at 1000 Cwdis each and 92 scanners at 1000 Cedis each all amounts to GH 644,000 Cedis. That is a little over $100,000 US Dollars.
It should be noted that these items can still be procured at a lower fee if it is opened to a competitive purchasing process.

QUESTIONS

1. What informed the GFA leadership’s mind-boggling $290,000?

2. Which company’s invoice are they using to arrive at such a gargantuan cost?

The Loop is really startled by this outrageous figure announced by the GFA for this exercise. It doesn’t make economic sense, to be honest.

Football stakeholders must reject this move by the GFA and demand transparency to ensure that their development money is used judiciously by the GFA.

The loop can only deduce from the actions of the GFA that the 92 selected beneficiaries,as professional entities can’t buy this items for their administrative purposes.

These are basic inputs any serious organization or club must have to be seen as a professional entity.

The loop wants to find out from the club licencing committee headed by Dr.Kwame B.Nuako,whether these items are not part of the basic requirements for clubs.

$290,000 for 92 desktop computers, 92 scanners, 92 printers and Internet connectivity is not only outrageous, but also ridiculous.

Open your eyes football people.

Long live Ghana Football.

Source: Mohammed Amin Lamptey