Address by President of Ghana Football Association to Congress held on Thursday 4th August 2011
The Vice President and Members of the Executive Committee Club Presidents, Chairmen, Directors, Chief Executive Officers, Representatives of Members of Congress Distinguished invited guests, Media men and women, Friends, ladies and gentlemen.
Good morning to you all. It is my pleasure to welcome you all to the first day of the Ordinary Session of Congress. All too soon another season is coming to a close and we are gathered here to take stock of our performance over the period.
The deliberations will cover two days during which we are all expected to undertake a dispassionate review of what transpired during the season. We will cover the activity report of the General Secretary, a review of our Four-Year Business and Development Plan, accounts for the last financial year and a swearing in of a new Executive Committee tomorrow.
The highlight of this year’s activities was the conduct of elections which witnessed the re-election of some members and an election of about eight new members to the Executive Committee. The only region yet to elect it representative to the Executive Committee is the Eastern Region. A member of the Eastern Region football association, Hikari SC has taken issues about the election to the ordinary law court. Until the issues are fully determined we cannot proceed to hold elections in the Eastern Region. In the interim, the Executive Committee has decided to extend the mandate of the Executive Committee in the Eastern Region pending the resolution of the legal issues, conduct of elections and the swearing in of a new Chairman.
During today's Congress you will be asked to break into a plenary session to discuss topical issues on the direction of the association for the next four years. Your input and guidance will be sought on the future of youth football, the direction of our technical development activities, men and women’s competitions, the national teams, marketing and sponsorship, our relations with the media, external relations and partnerships, development of infrastructure, safety and security, among others. The outcome of these deliberations will shape the direction and future of football development over the next four years.
Inspite of the gains and successes recorded over the last five years, a lot still remains to be done. I will like to thank the Congress, the Executive Committee, all the clubs and members of the GFA for their support over the last five years. Members of the various Committees have also been very supportive and we thank them for a good work done.
After tomorrows Congress, the mandate of the old Executive Committee will be brought to an end whiles the new elected Committee is sworn in. Accordingly, with effect from tomorrow, all management committees of the FA will be dissolved. New committees will be constituted by the new executive committee as soon as possible. In constituting the new committees, new faces will definitely be considered to add fresh ideas and impetus to the work of the FA. We shall also send many of the old faces to new committees to share their experiences there. It shall also afford many others the opportunity to acquire new learning points at the new committees.
Let me at this juncture congratulate Chelsea for winning the Glo Premier League. May i also congratulate Nania FC for winning the FA Cup.
During the year many courses were organized for coaching and refereeing to further the frontiers of our development activities. We shall continue to undertake many of the initiatives I mentioned to you during the last Congress. They include training programs for all juvenile coaches this year free of charge, the construction of a pitch for each region and the support given to clubs participating in Africa, among others.
This year’s national juvenile competition will take place as scheduled. The event is sponsored by the mobile operator, Airtel and will be launched in Sunyani on Sunday. I wish to invite all of you to the launch. Find time and patronize the matches which will take place at the regions and Accra to make the event a memorable one.
A committee is in place to review all our regulations and statutes. Before the end of the year, an Extraordinary Congress will be organized to approve new statutes and regulations for our Association.
Once again, I wish to welcome you. I regret to note that attendance at today's Congress hasn't been very impressive. I believe we will have recorded a full house attendance if elections were being conducted today.
Those here have demonstrated you are the backbone of this association. We should soon consider a reward system for people who show interest in the work of the association and contribute regularly to its programs and activities. I believe that you will consider all these factors during elections.
I wish you all a fruitful and successful deliberation during this year’s Congress.
Kwesi Nyantakyi