Manifesto CONTENTS 3 FOREWORD 19 CLUB LICENSING SYSTEM 6 INTRODUCTION 19 REGISTRATION 7 VISION 19 SECURITY 7 MISSION STATEMENT 20 GOVERNANCE 8 STATEMENT OF INTENT 20 GFA Corporate Governance 10 FOOTBALLING CURRICULUM 20 GFA / Government Relationship VITAE 20 GFA/Other Football 11 ADMINISTRATION Associations Relationship 11 National Secretariat 21 Reforms 11 Regional Football Association 21 NATIONAL TEAMS Secretariats 22 12 Ghanaman Soccer Centre of MEDIA Excellence 22 FUNDING 12 ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS 22 Marketing and Sponsorship 12 Finance Department 23 CONCLUSION 13 Competition Department 24 OUTRO 13 Technical Directorate 14 Communications Department 14 OUR MEMBERS 14 The League Clubs 14 Womens Football 15 Youth Football & Grassroot Football 17 Referees 18 Players 18 Coaches George Kwasi Afriyie - Manifesto FOREWORD Football in Ghana is described as the “passion of the nation”, and rightly so, since it is a sport which sums up the mood of the entire nation; our collective joy at winning and agony in defeat. For many years, Ghana football has been held in high esteem for the consistent discovery of talented players who have etched their names in the annals of football history both home and abroad; from pre-independence to the present time. C.K Gyamfi, Wilberforce Mfum, Osei Kofi, Ibrahim Sunday, Robert Mensah, Malik Jabir, Dan Oppong, Kwasi Owusu, Dan Owusu, Abdul Razak, Adolf Armah, Mohammed Polo, Opoku Afriyie, Abedi Pele, Tony Yeboah, Opoku Nti, George Alhassan, Ishmael Addo, Charles Taylor, Emmanuel Osei Kufuor, Stephen Oduro, Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari, Sammy Osei Kufuor, Stephen Appiah, Asamoah Gyan, Dede and Jordan Ayew, Alberta Sackey, Mercy Tagoe, Adjoa Bayor, and Memunatu Suleiman just to name a few. Under the auspices of the Ghana Amateur Football Association (GAFA) now Ghana Football Association (GFA), football administrators like the inimitable Ohene Djan, Nana Fredua 3 THE RESTORATION George Kwasi Afriyie - Manifesto Mensah, Simms Mensah, Tommy has been subjected to intense public Thompson, Harry Zakour, Yaw scrutiny arising out of perceived Bawuah , Nana Sam Brew-Butler, corruption within the corridors Alhaji MND Jawula, E.A. Nartey, of football. The GFA secretariat Alhaji Gruzah, Jones Alhassan - Abu , was raided by the Economic and E.O. Boateng , Welbeck Abra- Appiah Organised Crime Unit (EOCO) , Alhaji Sly Tetteh, Kudjoe Fianoo, in December 2010. In 2014, the Sir Sam Jonah, Kwesi Nyantakyi, Dzamefe Commission was set Madam Abiba Atta, Sophia Okulley, up as a result of the scurrilous Nancy Thompson and Helena events arising out of the Black Cobbina have all paid their dues. Stars World Cup participation in Brazil. Matters came to a head The GFA has since 1958, run an in 2018 when after the airing of effective league system and other Number 12, the premises of the FA competitions, which has seen our were cordoned off and declared a teams qualify and excel in Africa crime scene thereby bringing all with the likes of Kumasi Asante football activity to a halt with the Kotoko, Accra Hearts of Oak and final straw being an attempt by the lately Berekum Chelsea, Aduana Government to dissolve the GFA as Stars and Medeama SC carving a criminal organisation. FIFA stepped niche for themselves in Africa. in and through a collaborative On the international front, Ghana’s interaction with the Government, exploits at both the senior and set up a liaison team after which youth levels have cemented Ghana’s under threats of sanctions, the place as a footballing giant in Africa. Normalization Committee was Among others, the Senior national inaugurated with specific mandate team (Black Stars) has successfully among others to run the day to day qualified three consecutive times activity of the GFA and to amend to the FIFA World Cup, the Black the Statutes of the GFA to conform Satellites won the 2009 FIFA U’20 with article 15 of FIFA Statutes. World Cup in Egypt, The Black The Normalization Committee Queens being the first senior team did its bit by ensuring our local to qualify for the FIFA World Cup teams played in Africa, ushered in in 1998, the Black Maidens being and played the novelty NC Special the only African team ever to win Competition as well as ensured that Bronze at the FIFA U17 Women’s the national teams participated in all World cup in 2012(Azerbaijan). competitions, they had qualified for. Unfortunately, we had mixed results In the immediate past years, the FA from these competitions with the 4 THE RESTORATION George Kwasi Afriyie - Manifesto ignominious exit of the Black Stars past and still offering tremendous from the African Cup of Nations in assistance, one can only imagine the Egypt being the most painful. transformational milestones that Mr. Afriyie can achieve for Ghana when The Draft Statutes was approved by given the mandate as president of Congress on 5th September 2019, the GFA. which paved the way for the NC to outline the itinerary for elections. Mr. Afriyie is a soccer magnate, We are at a period in our history corporate executive and an where we need to “Heal the past, live entrepreneur. Having finished his the present and dream the future”. early education at Ada Senior High School and furthering to Accra The choice has now fallen on us to Polytechnic to obtain his HND, he elect a leader, George Kwasi Afriyie subsequently got his diploma in has stood up to be counted. George business management from Osaka Kwasi Afriyie, a devoted football Business College in Japan. He management personality hails studied Japanese at the Japanese from Asante Akyem in the Ashanti International Language School Region and Ada in the Greater Accra in Tokyo. Mr. Afriyie therefore Region of Ghana. I know him as a combines cultures and operates father, a brother and a colleague. Mr. perfectly in multiple cultures too. Afriyie has been an instrumental figure in recent times and has Moving forward on our football contributed to the growth of the path as Ghanaians, there is the Ghanaian local league through the need to have a fresh perspective mentorship of footballers and the without doing away with the coordination of activities that are past, have a stronger approach to geared towards enhancement in the our management efforts without lives of Ghanaian players. overlooking our weaknesses and desist from partisan forms of More often than not, many expect management without forgetting to have absolute power before they our ethnic diversity. If there is any effect change, but this is not so one person that has mastered all with George. Through more ways of these abilities, then it is George than one, he has shown to all and Kwasi Afriyie. sundry that his loyalty to the cause of the GFA is unquestionable; a feat I plead with you to support his cause, which over the years earned him his campaign and his message. the title “Chief of Staff”. Seated at the deputy side of power in the 5 THE RESTORATION George Kwasi Afriyie - Manifesto transparency and integrity as our watchwords. Our Revival – We shall revive our Youth & Grassroot football, women’s football, Gala, FA Cup & the National Leagues devoid of bribery, corrupt practices, rowdyism and hooliganism. Let’s play it fair shall be our mantra. Our Restoration - We shall restore the GFA to its lost glory. We shall use lessons of the past to forge a new beginning. Ghana football shall take its rightful place amongst the league of football nations, The Best of the Best. With this Manifesto, we shall together build. Ours is not to make vain promises just to get elected; INTRODUCTION ours is not business as usual; ours are We stand at the crossroads of our practicable and workable solutions. history where the choices we make I have used “We” instead of “I”, today determine our tomorrow. and “Ours” instead of “Mine” A new beginning yet with echoes because I believe it is a collective from the past. responsibility for us all. Never have we striven to perfect the Whatever happened previously is imperfections of our Association as our collective shame which none we seek to do now. can be absolved from. We have the opportunity now to right the wrongs This manifesto, dubbed “The and usher our Association into a Restoration” is tailored to fit our glorious future. requirements going into the future. Let’s Do It together! Our Redemption – We shall George Kwasi Afriyie redeem our lost image by running a crystal-clear administration with 5TH OCTOBER 2019 6 THE RESTORATION George Kwasi Afriyie - Manifesto 3. Ensuring that all grounds provide the safety and security required to make everyone welcome on VISION match days to enjoy the game to “To establish a well-defined career the fullest. pathway anchored in transparency 4. Pushing the nation’s football for all in the pursuit of excellence developmental agenda onto a within Ghana football. A pathway new pedestal thereby enabling ignoring exclusivity, embracing Ghana win laurels in global and diversity and encouraging continental championships both inclusivity. Promoting self, team and at the national and club levels. corporate innovative advancement; From the first kick of a ball right 5. Vigorously pursuing value-added through to the introduction of senior dimensions of football in Ghana; football. From the Administrators to modifying and merchandising to the Match Officials, the Coaches, the enrich footballers, stakeholders, Psychologists, the Physiotherapists investors, merchants and the and Nutritionists to name but a few, national economy at large. the career path must embrace them 6. Promoting our football league all. A prosperous football economy system with innovative and full of opportunities and soccer marketable ideas to maximise talents.” entertainment value and rekindle mass spectatoring. 7. Exploring avenues of retaining football stars in the country to MISSION STATEMENT curb or minimise the exodus 1.