FIFA has
powers to intervene in the governance of its member associations and such powers
are exercised by imposing ‘normalization committees’ on member associations
that FIFA determines are not complying with the FIFA statutes, as in the case
of Ghana presently.
In the case of Ghana, a four-member Normalization Committee was duly
established after FIFA’s intervention after the former GFA president’s
indictment. The protection of the integrity of the game is of utmost importance
here since the current Normalization Committee is supposed to be in the process
of reforming our football governance, but which many have noted that the
current ongoing reforms by the Normalization Committee are ad hoc and have not
gone far enough ‒ with standards falling far short of those
expected.
Whilst
normalization committees often have the desired effect of bringing a member
association’s governance in line with FIFA’s expectations, the difficulties lie
in the determination of what good governance is in the context of a truly
global sport like football. Further, given the integrity issues historically
faced by the GFA, questions could be raised regarding the Normalization
Committee’s role as moral arbiter – perhaps an independent body would be more
effective in decisions such as these.
From past
examples, whilst normalization committees can achieve FIFA’s desired outcomes,
there are notable examples which open the process up to criticism for being
largely ineffective and for preserving the status quo rather than revitalizing
the situation.
The
example of Guinea Conakry demonstrates how smoothly the normalization committee
process is supposed to run, with a relatively quick and positive outcome.
Guinea had a normalization committee imposed on it by FIFA in April 2016
following ‘internal wrangles’ which brought all football competitions in that
country to a halt. The Normalization Committee completed its task 11 months
later, with the adoption of a new constitution and the election of a new president
in March 2017 and this inured to Guinea Conakry’s qualification to AFCON 2019.
These
examples of intervention should serve as a stark warning of the significant
consequences of corruption within football. However, we must all be alive to
criticism in acknowledging our failures and be prepared as a matter of urgency
to monitor and scrutinize the appointment of committee members, and keep a
watchful eye over the suitability of candidates for the executive committee
positions.
In view
of the above, I appeal to the GFA Normalization Committee to remain sincere to
its mandate to prepare the grounds for election of new executive committee
members of the GFA in September 2019 as it promised.
Football
is Ghana’s most favourite sport. It provides experiences and opportunities for
all-male and female, young and old, talented athletes and community level
players. In my candid opinion, Ghanaian domestic club football is in decline,
attendance in the stadiums is falling and the quality of football is not very
impressive either. As a country that is football-crazy, there isn’t much for us
to be happy about. It will take much time to win over our neutral supporters if
our football governing body remains visionless.
Complete Overhaul
There is
a need for a complete overhaul, restructured and reconstructed footballing
platform. Major changes are needed at the grassroots level to ensure there
would never be a repeat of the past.
Truly,
money is needed to develop the game, however; a lack of control over the
revenues and profit motives tend to damage local talent. Is Ghana really ready
to address the symptoms of stagnation and get to the grassroots to cure the
problem? If they need any evidence, all they need to look at is the rise of
Malagasy’s and its envious record during the 2019 AFCON in Egypt.
In this
regard, more importantly, there is need for a national plan that will put an
emphasis on redistribution of resources to the sport at community level, so
that the game will continue to thrive at the grassroots.
National, Regional Devt.
There’s a
lot of hard work and difficult decisions ahead, but the national, regional and
district football administrations need to be well resourced to develop their
own yearly operational plans and four-yearly strategic plans, all should take
into account the national vision. This plan should be from broad consultation
with key stakeholders and only a dynamic selfless leadership with vision and
energy can be able to achieve this.
Like best
practices elsewhere, all the teams in the top tier will be required to adopt
academies and provide corresponding training facilities, pitches, coaches and
physiotherapists. In addition, the clubs
will have to necessarily have coaching personnel for the young talents coming
in (all the different age groups).The clubs that could not afford these
facilities will be provided assistance by the association.
The other
reform I propose that will lead to smooth functioning between the clubs and the
FA is the 50+1 rule that will require 51% of the clubs to be owned and
controlled by their members i.e. their supporters. This will remove the
possibility of one investor taking over the club. This rule will help the clubs
nurture new talents as it eradicates the powers of the investor who never would
care for the national team but only for his profits through player
transfers.
I know
the clubs will struggle for a few years as the academies will be developing and
will lack financial muscle. However, in the medium to long term, this
enterprise will be profitable in terms of both funds and quality talents.
Retain Football As Largest Sport
The
mission here is to retain football as the largest and most popular sport in
Ghana. Now is the time for the Ghanaian football community to bring the sport
to life. The new administration’s plan should give everyone in football’s
long-term targets needed to achieve its objectives in order to fulfill our
national potential.
Whenever
a Premier League club, a community club, a school or a local association
ponders its place in our football’s future, the plan will provide a context and
a constructive framework. If a fan, player, referee, coach or volunteer wonders
where they fit in our football’s ecosystem, the plan should provide a sense of
identity, purpose and belonging.
Projections in the plan should be strategic; targeting to have many Ghanaians as part of the football community and to have 80% of participants as fans of our Premier League clubs; with a goal to have thousands of elite players, both male and female in every age group, providing a pipeline of talents for our national teams and professional clubs.
By HE Ray Quarcoo
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