By Sammy Heywood Okine

Hon. Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, the Minister of Youth & Sports could not attend the 23rd Ghana Football Association (GFA) Congress due to fatigue from the hectic Ghana General Elections in which he retained his Parliamentary NDC Seat for Odododiodioo in the Greater Accra Region.

The Minister who was supposed to deliver the Key Note Address was represented by the Chief Director of the Ministry of Youth & Sports, Mr. Frank Quist who said he had been in office for only three weeks.

In his speech read by the Chief Director, the Sports Minister identified funding as the key problem hindering sports development and promotion in Ghana, and advised the GFA to seek other favours of sponsorships for the national teams and the national league.

He urged the FA to focus on juvenile and youth football as it is the future of the game.

The outgoing Minister of Youth & Sports who pulled over 36,000 votes for the NDC against a bit over 26,000 of his opponent commended the national female teams who represented Ghana in international competition and exceled.

He mentioned the Sandford Clinic sponsorship for the premier Women’s FA Cup which was won by Ghana Police with splendid organization at Cape Coast.

He announced that Ghana has been voted to hose the next African Women’s Championship and prayed for a successful tournament. He desired that the Black Queens will win.

He advised the FA to find solutions to the delay in starting of the League.

He said the Sports Bill which was passed by Parliament must play a role in the development of football which is the passion of the nation.

Mr. J.Y Appiah, Former GHALCA Chairman who commented on the Ministers’s speech cautioned the incoming minister not to handle issues on the air waves.

Kwesi Nyantekyi, President of the GFA said he has been serving as a FIFA Executive Council Representative and will go for re-election in March 2017. He asked for Delegates prayers.

He led members of the media and some FA members to the newly constructed artificial turf sponsored by FIFA and described it as the best pitch in the whole of Ghana. He hinted that very soon the Kwesi Nyantekyi Football Academy will open and train talented footballers in academics and other vocations like ICT.

He announced the launch of the Football Endowment Fund next year and the Gala to usher in the Ghana Premier League with support from a Chinese company, StarTimes, who have promised to give 20 OB Vans for Television Production to the GFA for live telecasts and build ten new stadia across the country.

The GFA President told journalists their vision on winning the African Cup has not changed with the change of government in Ghana. He said in 2009 Ghana went for Gold at the World Under 20 when there was a change of government.

Frank Nelson, a member of the Executive Committee of the GFA who was in the delegation that went to China for the StarTimes deal said it is very lucrative for Ghana Football because Ghana will earn two pitches in the next two years, and get five more in the next five years in addition to Television Production equipment and training for Ghanaians.

The 23rdGFA Congress held at Prampram, Ghanaman Soccer Center of Excellence was one of the best attended and proceedings ended on time. Delegates remembered departed souls like coaches Ben Kuofie, Fred Osam Duodu, Afranie and the Brazilian club that was involved in a plane crash.

The Congress did not come to the conclusion with the date for the kick off of the 2016/17 Season still hanging, as well as the promotion of clubs from Division One and demotion of teams.

Meanwhile, Dreams FC have agreed to comply with the decision of the Appeals Committee to play in the Division One for registering an unqualified player after the case was taken to the International Court of Arbitration in Sports CAS by Tema Youth.

Ameenu Shardow Administrative Manager of Dreams FC believes they can come back to the Premiership next season.