President Mahama has given a clear mandate and authority to the Sports and Recreation Minister to activate and execute the purging and reform of the sports industry in Ghana.
With such powerful backing from the number one man in the land, there can be no excuses for Hon Kofi Adams to be anything but bold, firm and, if necessary, ruthless in ensuring that sanity, dignity and, most importantly, ensure that credibility returns to the struggling sports sector.
The Minister who took the oath of office on Friday 7th February has already acknowledged that one key to his success or otherwise, would be to identify the right person to direct affairs at the National Sports Authority (NSA).
The former special aide to ex President Rawlings is bent on ensuring that the man coming in to head the sports authority is completely locked into the assignment to purge, sanitize and reset one of the critical engine rooms that is responsible for steering sports in Ghana.
One does not need to be a rocket scientist to know that a successful reset of sports in Ghana will need deliberate head-hunting and the appointment of a “solid” Director General at the NSA.
Minister Adams would insist on having the most competent and qualified industry people as allies of progress at the very sensitive and sometimes controversial sports authority.
Equally important will be the appointment of the deputy directors and a strong board of directors (BOD) who know and understand the complexities of the industry very well.
These factors would be also crucial because we have been witnesses to some shambolic management at the NSA in recent times that almost led to disintegration of working relations between government and industry players.
A genuine reset of the sports industry cannot afford to have lukewarm appointments in such a critical sector, just for the sake of satisfying caucuses and lobbyists.
It is imperative to go full throttle if the laudable objectives of the new government’s sports agenda are to be realised without compromise.
At the same time, this offers an opportunity that cannot be missed, especially at the beginning of the stewardship of the new Minister, who needs the support of all players in the sports industry if he is to succeed.
Credit : Yaw Ampofo Ankrah
