The Ghana Amateur Football Club Owners Association (GAFCOA) has called for an evolution in the Ghanaian game that would recognize the efforts being made at the grassroots level to develop the game.

This they say is the best way to improve the falling standards of the local game which sadly has taken a nose dive in recent times.

Speaking on a wide range of issues in Accra last week, President of the GAFCOA, Seth Dogbe said, the time has come for the top hierarchy of Ghana football to pay particular attention to this area.

He added that, clubs at the lower tiers of the Ghanaian game have not been treated fairly in the past even though they have played a telling role in the development of the game.

Most of the current players, who represent Ghana at international level he stated, came through their ranks and therefore, it is unfair for the Ghana FA to treat them this way by not helping their cause.

Over the year’s, the GAFCOA have been at the receive end of some unfair treatment from the FA including asking them to pay officiating and others fees which he added, takes a huge chunk of their budget.

He appealed for the scrapping of some of these fees while asking for more to be done by the major stakeholders to support clubs in the 2nd, 3rd and at the juvenile level.

Mr. Dogbe a former player himself, called on the FA to act swiftly on the call by the President in his ‘State of the Nation’ address to take a close look at the development of the game from the grassroots level.

If proper structures are laid, then Ghana would be in line to dominate the African game for a long time to come. These structures he said must start at the lower divisions.

Ghana baseball gets support

As the National Sports Council (NSC) strives to develop all sporting disciplines, the Ghana baseball and softball association has received support to that effect.

The Association for Friends of African baseball based in Japan last Friday presented baseball items to the NSC in Accra.

This gesture according to the donors is aimed at supporting in the development of the game as Ghana seeks to compete on equal terms with the best in the world.

The items totaling 3641, included baseball bats, balls, and catcher’s bats among others packed into 125 boxes, were presented to the NSC by Messrs Shinya Tomonari and Hajime Otsuka.

Mr. Tomonari hoped the items would be put to good use to help in the development of the game in Ghana which sadly he said, is not a popular sport.

Baseball he added can grow in stature and can be compared to football in the years to come if proper attention is paid to it.

Chief Executive Officer of the NSC, Wolanyo Agra thanked the donors for the support and promised to ensure that the equipments are put to good use.

Soon he added, a development expect would be arriving from Japan to run a training programme in Winneba after which he believed the impact would be felt at all levels.

Stories by George Osei a freelance sports journalist based in Accra

Email: okotosports@yahoo.com