Ghana FA visit Dwarfs secretariat

Ghana Football Association executives visited the offices of Ebusua Dwarfs on Saturday to acquaint themselves with the club's operations.

The move is meant to strengthen the bond with the country's governing body and the clubs in the country.

This comes after Ghana FA president Kwesi Nyantakyi visited Hearts of Oak last week in the latest initiative to listen to the club's concerns while taking first-hand feedback on how to continue to improve the league.

The visit to Dwarfs is part of a new policy by the GFA boss to engage Ghanaian clubs in a bid listen to their concerns and help find solutions.

He was met on arrival by the club's administrative secretary Mr Commey, who took him round the club's headquarters in Cape Coast.

Nyantakyi and his executives were happy with the club's facilities while commending them for putting structures in place for further improvement.

He decried the violence meted out to referees by Dwarfs fans during a recent match and called on the officials to educate their fans against hooliganism.

"We are happy that Dwarfs as one of the traditional club in the country have a good office from where they operate," Nyantakyi said.

"You are leading by example as one of the traditional clubs in the country. But the recent acts of hooliganism have not helped the club's image.

"You must intensify the efforts to educate the fans so that we enjoy our matches - trusting that when things go wrong with issues like refereeing the GFA will act swiftly."

Commey apologised for the hooliganism by that nearly cost the life of referee Kyeremanteng and called for leniency when the disciplinary committee rules on the matter.

He assured the GFA that an education campaign is underway among the fans in their bid to fight against the scourge of hooliganism.

Chief supporter of Dwarfs Alhaji Ten Ten also apologised and assured the GFA of good behaviour from their fans in future matches.

Ghana FA chiefs interact with Dwarfs fans

Ghana football authorities have a friendly meeting with angry Dwarfs fans on Saturday during their working visiting of the Central Region.

The fans were planning to protest against the GFA's visit to Cape Coast in the wake of a temporary GFA-ban imposed on the Robert Mensah after Dwarfs fans attacked referees during a recent match.

But a charm offensive by Ghana FA boss Kwesi Nyantakyi persuaded the fans to come to the table for talks which yielded positive dividends.

Even more intriguing was the gift given to Nyantakyi by the fans of the club as the snarling mob turned into a dancing crowd.

The meeting was attended by fans of Dwarfs and their leaders as well as Ghana FA executive members who assured them that the GFA is fair in its dealings.

Citing Article 15.2, Nyantakyi explained to the fans that the decision to stop GFA-organised matches at the stadium was a precautionary measure but not a punishment.

"I want to assure all of you that the GFA is not against Dwarfs. There are some security lapses which must be sorted out so we don't want to lose any lives," Nyantakyi told the crowd.

"The disciplinary committee will meet to take a decision on the fate of Dwarfs but I will assure you that disciplinary committee is independent and fair.

"I want to plead with the fans to go to the stadium and enjoy the game not to create confusion. The acting of a few individuals can lead to bad consequences for your team."

Leaders of the Dwarfs supporters union Mr Sackey issued a groveling apology to the GFA, the affected referees and Ghanaians.

He praised the GFA for reaching out to them and pleaded for clemency for their club following the attack on referee Kyeremanteng.

Sackey says they are embarking on an educational campaign to teach their fans that violence has no part in matches.

"We didn't know the GFA bosses were this humble. The move has really helped to ease the tension as there was so much speculation in the air," Sackey said.

"People said a lot of things about the GFA which we now realise is not the truth. We want to apologise for our actions and call on the GFA’s disciplinary committee to be lenient when punishment is meted out.

"We know we deserve to be punished but we are calling for mercy. We want to assure you that it will not happen again."

Ghana FA tour Robert Mensah stadium

The Ghana Football Association executive committee members inspected the Robert Mensah Stadium during a working visit in Cape Coast on Saturday.

The stadium has been temporarily excluded from hosting GFA-organised matches after some fans vandalised the security barriers and attacked referees.

Referee Patrick Kyeremanteng and his two assistants George Seidja and Augustine Akugri were beaten up during a recent Glo Premier League game between home side Dwarfs and Aduana Stars.

Central Region FA boss John Doe and Dwarfs officials joined Ghana FA chief Kwesi Nyantakyi and his executives to inspect the damage done to the barriers while narrating how the referees were attacked.

Nyantakyi told the fans to avoid hooliganism to ensure that one of the top clubs in Ghana will continue to grow.

"We must quickly put in place measures to stop some of these things from happening and the large part of it comes from us the club administrator," Nyantakyi said.

"We can fix the stadium but if the mentality of the fans is the same then no progress has been made. I think we should intensify our work by educating the fans."

According to Article 15.2 of the Ghana Football Association rules and regulations, a league venue can be suspended from hosting GFA-organised matches over security concerns.

Central region journalists grateful for media opportunity

Central Region journalists expressed their gratitude to the Ghana Football Association following the federation's first media conference in the region.

For the first time in the history of Ghana football, journalists in the region were given the opportunity to field questions to the country's football administrators in Cape Coast.

This is part of the plan of the communications division of the GFA to open up the federation to journalists in the other parts of the country.

The media in Ghana is Accra-centred and the new approach by the GFA is meant at giving the chance to journalists in the other regions to seek answers to burning issues.

The heavily-attended event was carried live on several radio stations in the region while journalists from closer regions - Western and Greater Accra - also attended the event.

GFA president Kwesi Nyantakyi and his other executives George Afriyie, Kweku Ayiah, Yankah and John Doe as well as technical director Francis Oti Akenteng addressed the press conference.

The journalists fielded questions on various issues including the Black Stars, ex-coach Goran Stevanovic's compensation package, the Black Satellites, juvenile football, women's football and hooliganism and Dwarfs.

Speaking on behalf of the journalists in the region, Asante Fokuo said they are happy with the decision to take the GFA's conferences to other parts of the country.

"We want to thank the GFA for the decision to take the media conferences to the other parts of the country as it has given us the opportunity to ask questions at first hand," he said.

"We relied on other sources to get information for our work but now we have had the chance to interact directly with the leaders of the GFA which we are grateful for.

"We want them to continue on this path of taking the GFA media conferences to the other regions so that it can clear the air for many people who are not in Accra."

The new initiative by Nyantakyi is to ensure that he keeps abreast with football development in all parts the country while engaging stakeholders in the various regions.

As part of the new initiative, the GFA boss will visit a region every month and he will address the press in that region on the burning issues affecting Ghana football.

Ghana FA members visit spot where Sly Tetteh died

Ghana FA executives offered prayers for well-liked football administrator Alhaji Sly Tetteh when they visited the spot of his death in Cape Coast on Saturday.

Executive committee member Leanier Addy broke down in tears when she knelt down to say a prayer for the founder of Liberty Professionals.

Ghana FA boss Kwesi Nyantakyi called for a minute’s silence to honour the man, who played a pivotal role in the development of football talents in the country, before Muslim and Christian prayers were held.

Tetteh died September 3, 2011 when playing a charity match in Cape Coast.

The GFA's top-guns were visiting the Central Region as part of the new initiative to visit one region per month to observe developments in the game.

Other GFA executives George Afriyie, Kweku Ayiah, Kojo Yankah and MNS Doe as well as technical director Francis Oti Akenteng were in a sombre mood as an eye witness recounted how the Liberty Professional died on the pitch.

"I always like to come here because it was his first resting place," said Afriyie.

Nyantakyi said: "I was able to go to the exact place where Alhaji died and that was helpful to me for my healing process.

"I had a better understanding of what he died for - the game we all love that brought us together as friends."

Alhaji Tetteh is credited with developing great talents in the likes of Michael Essien, Asamoah Gyan, John Paintsil and many more who are now contributing to the exploits of the senior national soccer team, the Black Stars

He was the founder of Accra-based premier league side Liberty Professionals.

Tetteh’s influence was not restricted to Ghana football alone as he ran academies in Togo, Kenya and Benin as well as providing the Ghana Football Association with vital technical assistance for over a decade.

The former Sekondi Hasaacas player collapsed on a football field in Cape Coast during a get- together match with other retired footballers and sports administrators.

Ghana FA completes successful central tour

The Ghana Football Association has successfully completed its tour of the Central Region as part of its monthly of the regions in the country to examine the development of the game.

Kwesi Nyantakyi led a delegation of GFA executives to engage with key stakeholders in the region on Saturday while listening to their concerns.

He was joined executive committee members George Afriyie, Leanier Addy, Kweku Eyiah, Kojo Yankah and MNS Doe, who is the central region FA boss.

They joined the Fifa representative Sampong Kablan to launch the Fifa Football for Hope Academy in Oguaa before meeting supporters of various clubs including Premier League side Dwarfs.

The executives also visited the headquarters of Dwarfs to examine their facilities and interacted with the club's leadership about their challenges.

For the first time in the history of Ghana football, a GFA press conference was held in Cape Coast where journalists from the region and other parts of the country fielded questions on various issues.

The executives also visited the Robert Mensah stadium to inspect the damage done and security lapses following a recent crowd violence during the Dwarfs- Aduana game.

The stadium has been banned from hosting the GFA's organised matches until security structures improve.

The GFA ended their tour by gathering at the spot in the stadium, where famous football administrator Sly Tetteh died, and said prayers for the founder of Liberty Professionals.

The new initiative by Nyantakyi is to ensure that he keeps abreast with football development in all parts the country while engaging stakeholders in the various regions.

As part of the new initiative, the GFA boss will visit a region every month and he will address the press in that region on the burning issues affecting Ghana football.