Kwesi Prat and Randy Abbey slug it out

What began as a simple clarification of the Ghana Football Association (GFA)’s doggedness to stick with its choice of Kwesi Nyantakyi, GFA President, as the nominee to contest CAF’s election for an Executive Committee position, degenerated into a shouting match between Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr and GFA Spokesperson, Randy Abbey.

The brouhaha was over government’s preference for the soccer maestro and Ghana’s football legend, Abedi Ayew Pele in the stead of Kwesi Nyantakyi for the CAF position, which has sparked a lot of heated debate in the media and football circles. And the venue was the studios of PeaceFM, an Accra-based private radio station.

It would be recalled that the Executive Committee of the GFA reaffirmed its decision to back the candidature of Mr. Kwesi Nyantakyi for the vacant seat of the Western Zone B on the Confederation of African Football - CAF - Executive Committee. The GFA’s declaration on Thursday, November 11th, was in response to the Sports Ministry's letter dated 9th November, 2010 that sought to impose Abedi Pele as the candidate against that of Kwesi Nyantakyi for the running of the CAF position.

Speaking on Kokrokoo, PeaceFM’s flagship programme, Mr Randy Abbey disclosed that the GFA per a letter dated 9th July 2010, wrote to government through the Ministry of Youth and Sports informing government of the vacant CAF position and the decision to nominate the GFA President in that regard.

“…We did that as a mark of respect to government…since it (gov’t) is a shareholder and a financier to national team,” Randy said.

He further revealed that on 13th July, 2010, the Sports Ministry wrote back as per letter reference NE. 115/174/01/01 informing the GFA of Government's support for Mr. Nyantakyi's candidacy.

“Subsequent to this, we (FA) forwarded Mr. Nyantakyi's nomination to CAF, which body has since written back to acknowledge receipt of the same,” the GFA mouthpiece stated.

Mr. Randy Abbey said it was therefore unfortunate and clearly confusing that almost four months after agreeing to Mr. Nyantakyi’s candidature, government in a quick turn-around ordered the GFA President to step aside for Abedi Pele to contest the vacant position.

But the Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, who was also a panelist on the same programme, sought to question the wisdom in nominating the GFA President for the position at CAF considering the many portfolios he holds and responsibilities he shoulders.

He opined that it would have been appropriate for someone else to be given the opportunity.

“In Ghana, we heap too many responsibilities on people. Kwesi Nyantakyi is the president of GFA, is it not appropriate to get somebody else to go to CAF?...why should it be the same Nyantakyi? In Ghana, one person will be serving on about five boards….Nyantakyi works in the bank, a very sensitive position, in addition, he is also a lawyer...What is your strength as an individual to be doing all those things and that is my concern. GFA chairman alone is a big job!” he pontificated.

An emotionally charged Kwesi Pratt continued; “is it only Kwesi Nyantakyi who can do that job? Are there not lots of qualified persons in this country?” he asked angrily.

However, his submission was met with fierce disapproval culminating in some hot exchanges as Randy Abbey in a quick rebuttal pointed out that government’s preferred choice was an equally busy individual. “Besides,” he said, “the Executive Committee of the GFA unanimously agreed that Kwesi Nyantakyi is best suited for the position.’

The response of the FA's Executive Committee was signed by its 22-members and copied to the executive arm of the Ghana government, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, FIFA, CAF and Abedi Pele.

“Abedi Pele also carries a lot of portfolios so your argument is neither here…Kwesi, you are the Managing Editor of the Insight, a member of the Socialist Forum of Ghana, one of the leaders of the CJA, yet you find time to share your views on numerous radio stations as a panelist. Would you say you are over-burdened so won't take up an appointment when its offered to you?...Nyantakyi is the most suitably qualified person at this point in time. If you disagree, that is your position and you cannot force it on everybody,” Mr. Abbey fumed.

“You are creating the impression that the person has too much load…what does the CAF executive committee do and how many times do they meet? It is not a functional body like your office where you wake up every morning to go and work,” he screamed rather furiously.

For now, the debate still rages on, whether government was right in ordering the GFA President to step aside for Abedi Pele, or whether the fiat is a direct interference in the administration of the sport in the country which could draw the ire of Fifa and CAF.

Or perhaps the GFA was wrong to snub one of its major stakeholders and chief financier of its activities by sticking with Mr. Kwesi Nyantakyi.