Former Minister of Youth and Sports Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo has advised the yet-to-be-appointed Sports Minister in the incoming New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration to closely work with the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to foster unity and promotion of the game.

According to him, a great relationship between the two bodies will be a boost for the Black Stars and other national teams.

“I will tell the new minister to closely work with the Ghana Football Association, [to] cooperate with them. It is the way to develop Ghana football and make the Black Stars and the other national teams win laurels for the country,” he told Class Sports.

“It does not pay when you have conflict with the GFA and begin fighting as if the GFA is an extension of government. It’s an elected body and not part of government. We do help them and we need to continue to monitor how they do their things and develop the sports together.”

Mr Pelpuo further cautioned the incoming government not to interfere in the work of the association as this may aggravate problems between the FA and the government

“We should not try to change the character of the GFA, but if you try to change it and influence their election, you muddy the situation and it will not be in the interest of the country,” he advised.