Ghana FA holds summit to explore ways of improving soccer

By Alex Osei-Boateng

ACCRA, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has ended a three-day summit to explore ways of improving football in the country, with a resolve to restructure its various competitions management bodies, the association said on Friday.

The current Premier League Board is expected to be overhauled, according to the GFA president, Kwesi Nyantakyi, who said a team of experts would be engaged to form a new Board for the organization of the 16-club elite league.

The new Board will meet periodically, while directors in charge of marketing and media and a general manager will manage the day-to-day affairs of the premier league, Nyantakyi said at the summit held in Cape Coast.

Also, the GFA has decided to reward anyone who reports issues of bribery and match-fixing in Ghana football with evidence.

The summit assembled members of the executive committee of the GFA who met key internal and external stakeholders to examine the challenges faced by the game in recent times and how these could be solved.

The summit also took advantage of recent changes and opportunities in world football to impact positively on the game in Ghana.

Apart from local football, the meeting also discussed issues on the various national teams with the sector ministry, key among them being the Black Stars' failure to seal qualification for the 2018 world cup in Russia and how this could be averted in future.

The dangers posed by football betting, match manipulation and match-fixing were issues the executive committee was keen on stemming and formed part of the discussions.

The outcome of the brainstorming initiative will be put forward to Congress, the highest decision-making body of the association, for consideration to perk up the game ahead of the start of the next football season. Enditem