FA Member Blasts Nyaho

Ghana Football Association management board member Dr Kofi Amoah has provided perhaps the most emphatic support for the GFA executive council in their power struggle with GFA chairman Dr Nyaho Tamakloe.

Dr Amoah told JoyFm's sports discussion program Sportslink on Satturday that the executive council is essential and basic for the development of Ghana football.

Before we came into office, I had heard a great deal about how bad the council was and I also thought along similar lines. But after attending three or so meetings, I think it is very necessary. The job of the Ghana Football Association is to develop football not only in the major cities but every where else.

“To do that you need agents of change and that is what the executive council does. You have people from all over the country, the clubs who are major stakeholders.”

The impasse, which was triggered off after Nyaho questioned the essence, size and statutory powers of the council in a letter to the Minister of Youth and Sports is, now in court as Nyaho seeks a permanent injunction preventing the council from impeaching him. That case is due to be heard on October 21st.

Dr Amoah's interview also suggested a sharp difference between him and GFA chairman Dr Nyaho Tamakloe. Amoah said Nyaho's description of the executive council as “an unwieldy body of thirty seven members supervising the activities of a five member management board” is “nonsense “and said you cannot effect change by being “confrontational.”

Without referring to Nyaho by name, Dr Amoah said the current GFA was being run on a one-man basis and urged Ghanaians to put things right.

“For Ghana football to be successful, we need to learn to work with people and respect the views of others. I didn't accept the nomination of government to serve on a dictatorial arrangement but that is what we are seeing. When Ben Koufie left office, it was said that one of his problems was that he was not working with his board. The same thing is happening today.”

Dr Amoah's criticisms will increase the pressure on the under-fire FA boss who is finding himself increasingly isolated from the other members of the management team he heads and other sections of Ghana football.

Premier league clubs have threatened to withdraw all financial contributions to the GFA in protest against his style of leadership and his management of the FA's funds as he deals with the threat of impeachment from the executive council.