Defiant Ghana FA Vice President George Afriyie has clinically watered down any doubt he might pull out of the race to contest for the Ghana Football Association Presidential elections in 2019.
The experienced football administrator and investor has reiterated his readiness to contest whoever it is – be it the incumbent President Kwesi Nyantakyi, who is rumoured to be considering his earlier decision not to contest the seat again.
“I George Afriyie will be a candidate for 2019 GFA Presidential Elections no matter what happens,” he told Kumasi-based Nhyira FM.
Nyantakyi, First Vice President of the Confederation of African Football, is on record to have told the Ghanaian media on five separate platforms he will not seek re-election to the office he has led since 2005.
Last month George Afriyie declared his intentions to run for the highest office of Ghanaian football citing Nyantakyi’s public statements not to seek re-election in 2019.
Afriyie has boldly and democratically resisted forces within the Executive Committee ranks of the Ghanaian FA who have birated him and labelled his declaration as a betrayal.
Last Friday, he was removed as Chairman of the Ghana Black Stars Management Committee Chairman and replaced with his Vice – Wilfried Osei Kwaku, who is regarded as a Nyantakyi ‘praise-lead’.
The move generated major talking point in Ghana and a member of the GFA Kojo Yankah claims Afriyie was removed because he was ‘unlucky’.
The Ghanaian media, football administrators and investors teemed up with the football public to tackle the failed ‘ambush’ and joined the chorus of defiance tagging the address championed by Wilfried Osei Kwaku and Kojo Yankah as ‘hogwash’ and ‘rubbish’.
One football analyst said on a radio sports show in Accra – Ghana’s capital, that Nyantakyi is failing the test against the public test.
Renowned grassroot coach Isaac Boateng, popularly known in football circles as Opeele, said on Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show that Nyantakyi cannot canvas up to 12% of votes if the Ghanaian FA electoral college includes the general public.
The reputation of George Afriyie is fast skyrocketing and is earning nationwide admiration for his boldness and stance against lack of transparency regarding operations of the FA.
Many have lauded his openness to criticism which many believe defines the way to condense and distil the evaporating fortunes of Ghana football.
By El Akyereko
