Nyaho Under Siege

A Classical game of power play unprecedented in Ghana?s mainstream football administration has erupted between GFA Chairman, Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe, and the Executive Council of the association, setting them on course for an uncomfortable showdown.

This follows an ultimatum issued by the Council to Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe to either justify or deny comments about the Council, supposedly contained in a letter to the Minister for Education, Youth and Sports and attributed to him in the September 14-16 edition of the Graphic Sports, by 5 p.m. today.But the threat has aroused the anger of the GFA boss who has obliged the Council to a showdown in a frantic declaration that ?I am doing something I believe in?.

?If in future one has to talk about the unlikely event of the FA having failed, no one would even talk about the FA as a body; they will say Nyaho-Tamakloe?s FA has failed, although the management has its hands tied to its back,? he told the Graphic Sports last Wednesday.

?Look at the case of Coach Mariano Barreto. In the aftermath of his recent behaviour, no one has mentioned the Executive Council. All the blame is on me.? In a strongly-worded letter responding to the GFA Chairman?s remarks, the Council told Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe that he faced drastic action if he failed to respond appropriately to the letter before the ultimatum expires late this afternoon.

?The Executive Council shall advise itself accordingly if you fail or refuse to provide the said explanation on or before Friday (by 5 p.m.) September 17, 2004?.In his letter to the minister, intended to facilitate the process of reforms of Ghana football, the GFA Chairman lamented his frustrations at what he called ?confusing arrangement? where the authority of football is vested in the Executive Council while the Management Board is charged with the day-to-day running of affairs.

Taking cognisance of the details of the letter as published by Graphic Sports, the Council questioned Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe?s description of the structure as an ?absurd arrangement that has enabled the Executive Council to frustrate the activities of the Management Board in one breath, and then in another when things go bad, escape blame with the excuse that the Board is responsible for the day-to-day management of Ghana football?.

?When did this Council ever frustrate any programme or project of your management? We will also like you to expose the hypocricy you alleged where the leadership and membership of the Council encouraged a club to take the GFA to court and then turned round to sit in judgement over their own case,? the Council demanded from the GFA Chairman?

?In any case, are you talking on your behalf or on behalf of the Management Board?,? the letter signed only by Council Chairman, Mr Y. A. Ibrahim, asked Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe.But as the rage persists, Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe continues to draw on the somewhat latent support offered his proposal for reforms of Ghana football by various individuals and bodies.

The R.O. Solomon Committee Report on the restructuring of Ghana football, the Sports Bill yet to be put before Parliament, immediate past GFA Chairman, Mr Ben Koufie and the President of the Sports Wirters Association of Ghana (SWAG) have condemned either the essence of the Council or the size of it on different platforms.

?Are all these people wrong about thier views about the Council?? he asked.