I Will Not Seek Second Term - Ben Koufie

... Tape Scandal Forced Him Out
.. He Apologizes To Herbert Mensah's Father
Accra, Nov. 3, GNA - Mr Ben Koufie, Chairman of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) said he will not resign before his tenure of office ends in December this year because it will disrupt major projects he had initiated including the famous five-year development plan.

However, he will formally inform the Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, Mr Kwodwo Baah-Wiredu of his intention not to seek for a second term at the helm of the GFA.

He said in Accra on Monday morning that he had negotiated with FIFA for some equipment meant for the FIFA Goal Project, which, scheduled to be completed in two months time at Prampram and that it will be unwise to leave now while the items have not arrived.

The 71-year old Chairman said his decision not to stand for a second term is due to an intense pressure from members of the football fraternity.
Mr Koufie told the GNA Sports a couple of months ago that he will contest for the seat as GFA Chairman if government nominates him because he is not a defeatist.

Many connoisseurs, therefore, see his sudden change of mind not to contest for the seat as a result of a recent comment he made against his General Secretary, Mr Kofi Nsiah as being travel-happy and some top football Administrators including Mr Herbert Mensah, former CEO of Asante Kotoko.

Mr Koufie's conversation with his Executive Council Chairman, Mr Y. A. Ibrahim which, accused a host of important dignitaries was reportedly tapped and made public in the Soccer Express Sports Paper on Friday.

Perhaps realizing that the tape has been made public, Mr Koufie publicly apologized to the father of Herbert Mensah whom he lambasted during his meeting with Mr Ibrahim.

He was reported to have said that Herbert had gone to the father and knelt before him pleading with him to lobby the President, John Agyekum Kufuor, for his nomination for the "hot seat".

Mr Koufie said on an Accra FM Station, Joy FM, that his reaction was based on wrong information he had from a journalist. "But when I realized it was not true I went to Herbert's father on Saturday to apologize to him", he said.