The Ghana Football Association (GFA) recently held a meeting with the Professional Footballers Association of Ghana (PFAG) to discuss the involvement of former footballers in the running of the country’s football.
This meeting comes weeks after former Black Stars captain, Stephen Appiah, claimed that ex-footballers had been sidelined in the running of Ghana’s football.
During the meeting, Stephen Appiah was in attendance alongside other former footballers such as PFAG President Samuel Osei Kuffour, Asamoah Gyan, John Mensah, John Paintsil, Derek Boateng, and Yussif Chibsah.
Also present were PFAG officials including Vice President Joseph Tetteh Zutah, General Secretary Anthony Baffoe, and Deputy General Secretary Solomon Torson, as well as GFA officials including President Kurt Okraku, Vice President Mark Addo, and other Executive Council members.
The meeting addressed several issues affecting the development of football in Ghana, including funding, support for domestic football, and the national teams.
President Okraku urged the PFAG to make recommendations and proposals on the current GFA Statutes, which is being reviewed for possible amendments.
He also emphasized the importance and relevance of footballers, both active and retired, in the football ecosystem and identified opportunities in coaching and other pathways.
“The relevance of footballers in the football ecosystem cannot be underestimated in any way,” said Okraku.
“We have a lot to do as stakeholders to push this industry to greater heights. I know the power and influence that you all carry as individuals and as a unit hence this meeting.”
He added, “We need these kinds of meetings to look into the real issues and challenges that pose a threat to us from player welfare, infrastructure, training and knowledge acquisition, exchange programs, and capacity building.”
The meeting concluded with a commitment to work together towards the growth and development of football in Ghana, with a particular focus on the welfare of players and the improvement of infrastructure and training programs.
