A delegation of the Executive Committee of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) led by their president, Mr.Kwesi Nyantakyi, has paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Youth and Sports, Dr.Mustapha Ahmed in his office.

Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Kwesi Nyantakyi said since the assumption of office of the Minister they as a group have not had the privilege of paying a courtesy call on him and this time they had the opportunity. He said the GFA has held many meetings with the Minister but this was the first time the full membership of the executive committee was doing so.

Mr. Nyantakyi introduced the members of his delegation after taking the Minister through the composition and role of the Executive Committee of the GFA and thanked him for making time to meet with them at such a very short notice in spite of his tight schedule.

Briefing the Minister on the reason for their visit, Kwesi Nyantakyi said as partners in the management of football, they have come to him so that they could get to know each other better and gave him an insight into a seminar the GFA held at Alisa Hotel for all premier and first division clubs and their media officers in the country.

He informed the Minister about the media launch of the Endowment Fund the GFA intend to set up to mobilize funds for retired footballers.

Mr. Nyantakyi said the Director for Sports of the Ministry of Youth and Sports is on the Endowment Fund Board and is a good indication that their two bodies are working together. He added that the problems of retired footballers are not just that of the GFA alone but also the Ministry as well.

Mr. Nyantakyi conveyed to the Minister concerns expressed by his members on issues such as delay in the payment of bonuses, outstanding camping costs as well as the Ministry’s delay in approving the engagements of some of the national teams.

Welcoming the delegation, the Minister noted that it was heartwarming for him to receive such an august delegation and believes the meeting would usher them onto a good footing towards 2016.He emphasized the need for such frequent interactions.

“You are our stakeholders and without you football might suffer. It is important that we work closely together in order to do away with the little suspicions “, he said.

Dr Mustapha Ahmed admitted that there were a lot of outstanding issues concerning bonus payments but this was because the budget for the Ministry was not enough.

The Minister disclosed that the Ministry’s budgetary allocation for 2016 is 22 Million Ghana cedis, but that notwithstanding, it would require the Ministry and the Ghana Football Association working together to overcome the handicap.
‘Perhaps this is a unique opportunity for us to work together with all other stakeholders so that we can fill the huge funding gap’ he said.

Dr Mustapha Ahmed expressed his appreciation to Mr. Kwesi Nyantakyi and his executives for taking the bold initiative to call on him and prayed for a stronger collaboration between the GFA his Ministry and.

Present at the meeting were Alhaji Rex Sumani, Director of Finanace and Administration; Mr. Seth Osei-Agyen, Director of Sports and other staff of the Ministry.
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