I Speak The People: Coach Kwesi Mahama Or President John Appiah?

It is rare to analyse politics with sports, or sports with politics. Yet, why do I feel that the Black Stars' performance at the World Cup is an extension of the current state of the Ghana government? And, why do you think the title of this write-up is curious, or funny? Seriously, I see a number of similarities between what happened in Brazil and what is happening in Accra. Here is why.

Before governments are formed in Ghana, as elsewhere, members of political parties garner support for their success, first at the elections, and second in government when they eventually form one. When teams qualify for world cups, they do the same; they grant interviews, seek sponsorships and train very hard, well quite hard. The aim is to succeed, first, in winning the hearts of their countrymen and women, and second, after kickoff. This is my first reason for drawing a link between the current Ghana government and the Black Stars. Like Coach Kwesi Appiah who is seen to be enjoying the toils of his predecessor coaches of the National Team, the President was, or is, also seen to be relying on the past glories of the late Prof. Mills. The NDC campaigned ferociously anyway. We saw the Okudzetos and the Ankrahs and the Mosquitoes. They harassed us into believing that the Sir Johns and the Okantas and the Karbos were political devils. We believed them, or so says the Supreme court. And they are now a government.

The Black Stars did not have to employ such Machiavellian tactics to earn the support of Ghanaians. Our support for the national team is electric, in fact religious. To some, a Black Star goal is an anti-depressant in a stress-charged economy. I am told of a Black Stars fan who, in order to jubilate a Ghana goal, threw out his six month old child on the cemented floor in front of the television. The Stars, and the GFA, nevertheless campaigned for our support. In fact, they succeeded in getting some other 'stars' on board; the Jackie Appiahs, the John Dumelos and some other American-looking Ghanaians, all to the chagrin of some NDC footballers (sorry - foot soldiers). We were also enticed by the YouTube-famous 'Black Stars Dance Off with Shatta Wale'. And the various interviews and an unprecedented media sound bites and national hype. In fact, the Black Stars' jersey was awarded the best out of the thirty-two in Brazil. The Black Stars looked promising, and we believed them to be so.

The NDC promised us but they started on a very bad note. Like the Black Stars' defeat to USA in Natal, Nana Addo-Dankwah Akuffo Addo instructed that initial NDC bad luck. This time, not in the 18-yard box in the first minute of the game but in the Supreme Court within the first months of the NDC government. It seemed to us that on account of Nana Addo's Case, the NDC was a failure at birth much like the Black Stars' on account of John Boye's gaffe in front of versatile Dempsey.

But there was still hope, or so we thought. We held on, waiting for the Stars' clash with almighty Germany. Equally, Ghanaians waited, after Atuguba's judgment, to see Mahama in action. There elapsed the proverbial political honeymoon new governments, the first hundred days. It all started with the ministerial appointments; Mills' men sidelined, Rawlings men sidelined or foot soldiers sidelined, claimed the media and some NDC individuals. Kevin-Prince Boateng is reported to have questioned Coach Kwesi Appiah in front of the players on why he had benched him during the US game while others played 'stupid football.' So why did President Mahama 'benched' Hon. Alban Bagbin and Ekow Spio-Garbra whilst others engaged in economy-sapping politicking? And did some powerbrokers in the NDC mastermind the benching of these distinguished politicians? Did Kevin Prince Boateng reveal that Gyan and Boye asked Appiah to drop Kwarasey?

The Germany game was Ghana's best, with Boateng starting after all. President Mahama delivered a strong message: "In your last game, you lost narrowly, you played a very good game but you lost narrowly'"Football is about goals, you can play beautifully but we need to put the ball in the net''I want to assure you that you can beat Germany'"Remember to play to the whistle''The last time, the Americans took advantage of the first few minutes where we were unsettled after the match had started' and 'God be with you." Ghana managed to play to the final whistle but we could not beat Germany. Of course, NDC lost - no, won narrowly - the last elections. But we might as well remind Mr President that indeed leadership is about discipline. You can direct beautiful propaganda machinery but we need to see positive results; economic development, jobs, education and services for our people. Ghanaians cannot wait until close to the final whistle, close to the end of our lives. Life in Ghana has turned man against man, or player against coach. In fact, we know God is with us. But that is not enough. Heavens help those who help themselves. This I am sure President and Mrs Mahama remember everyday on their prayer kneels, even before his 'First Coup d'État and Other True Stories From the Lost Decades of Africa'. A draw was not enough for Ghana to qualify. We needed to win. Mr President we do not need a zero-sum economy; we need a winning economy. Boys are tired, indeed, and girls are talking!

Kwesi Pratt is right, for why must the President be the one to fly Black Stars' money to Brazil, to entice Gyan and his colleagues to play to the win. This is not only a case of the President acting like a shadow Minister at the Sports Ministry, as believed Mr Pratt, but also Mr President acted as GFA President. So in the end Ghana blew it, and conceded silly goals, says Gyan. The Stars are already home, and preparing the Atsus, Ayews ( the older Ayew of course) and the Asamoahs and the Harrisons for the next world cup in Russia. Although, like Boye, some NPP members have promised to score an 'own goal' against their party, claims the vociferous Kennedy Agyapong, the NDC seems to have blown it already. The suspension of Boateng and Muntari affected the Stars greatly; Ghana's economy, distracted by naked politicking, is finding it difficult recuperating. The NDC looks set to blow it in the next election, if care is not taken.

If that happens must we replace coach Appiah with the then former President Mahama? And did I hear Gyan say he wants to go to Russia; he should pray hard. Speficically, to guarantee a place for the Black Stars and Kwesi Appiah in Russia Ghana must take the strategies that may very well apply to getting Ghana back on her feet, and Mahama re-elected.

First, get the right individuals to play the right roles. Don't keep Harrison on the bench whilst Opare makes wrong moves on the right back. Equally, Mr President, don't keep experienced statesmen on the flanks; even if they are not card bearing members of the NDC, whilst amateurish and former student celebrities, lead central ministries. Search for the distinguished and pragmatic brains, even if you have to travel far and wide, lest you use gifted individuals in wrong positions just because you lack quality; certainly, in the presence a quality left back, Kwadwo Asamoah would be better playing in the midfield where he is lethal on the offensive.

Moreover, to qualify for Russia in 2018, we must search for and nurture disciplined players. Not those who will disorganise camp when team spirit is needed most. I love Sulley not because he is from Asante Akim but because he is good, a rare talent. However, and not believing or denying the reasons for his suspension, he is sometimes reactionary. This said, the coach must master the psychology of his players; know what offends each individual player and what does not. There are instances when Sulley has erupted, and rightly so. Blame it on wrong calculations on the part of management. Respect senior players. After all one of my favourite stars, Atsu, leans a lot from Sulley. He's an inspiration.

So His Excellency John Mahama must respect and listen to former President Rawlings (or does he?), and even Agyekum Kuffour. It is the win that matters, not tempers and personal or political differences. In doing so, we must utilise opportunities on offer, for they never return to us. Had Jordan, passed the ball to Gyan, had he done so in time, Gyan would have scored, surely! Had Boye prevented Dempsey, had he not scored an own goal, Ghana would have qualified, surely! Ghana has missed a lot of opportunities, and it seems we are not learning. We missed the opportunity to utilise our immediate post-independence booming economy into national success story; we failed to utilise the very few dividends that came with the Structural Adjustment Programs in the late 80s and the 90s. We missed the blessing of good governance and political transparency in the earlier stages of the last decade. And in 2010, we missed that penalty in South Africa against Uruguay. Why must we, Ghanaians, continue to suffer? Mr President, many have succumbed to poverty!

I have soft spot for coach Kwesi Appiah; he did his best. And I understand the frustrations of the NDC government; it is not easy to suffer corruption allegations of such gargantuan proportions. And the President deserves our support, a full Black Star-like support. And may be he is doing his best. But, we need strong leadership, and that comes with constructive criticisms. Strong leaders must serve, and they must be seen to be doing so diligently. Thank you Mr President, and thank you Coach Kwesi Appiah. Ghana is prevailing, and by your services, she will prevail, eventually.

Mohammed A Sulemana
Contact me via Email: ma.sulaiman@live.com.au or follow me on Twitter @M_Sulemana

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