Former Sports Minister Paapa Owusu Ankomah blasts Nii Lante; insists he has no right to call for local players for Rwanda game

Former Ghana Sports Minister Paapa Owusu Ankomah has descended heavily on current Sports Minister Nii Lante Vanderpuye insisting he has no right to determine which players are invited into the national team.

Sports Minister Nii Lante Vanderpuye ordered the Ghana Football Association to invite locally-based players for the final group clash with Rwanda in the 2017 Afcon qualifier since Ghana has already qualified.

The power-drunk Nii Lante Vanderpuye made the call five days to the clash after the technical handlers of the team had announced a 23-man squad for the game.

And the former Sports Minister under whose regime Black Stars played at the maiden World Cup in Germany in 2006 says Nii Lante does not have the power to determine who is invited or not.

In an interview with Happy FM, Paapa Owusu Ankomah said 'Truth is that it is not the Sports Minister who will indicate the players for a particular game. That is the sole responsibility of the coach.'

'The game is not just for playing sake. It is a competitive game which we must all take serious.

'I don't understand why he [Nii Lante] keeps saying we don't have money and for that matter the Ministry can't afford tickets for the players.

'This is a global competition and we must attach all the importance it deserves to it,' he added.

By: Sheikh Tophic Sienu @desheikh1 on twitter