Neighbourhood Gong Edition 15

Sports
“RED HOT”
Welcome to the
YOUTH & SPORTS MINISTRY, DR. MUSTAPHA AHMED.
Five Commandments To Make You Succeed.
hen President John Agyekum Kuffour appointed Hon. Ali Yusif Issah as the Sports Minister, many were those who
Wthought he was going to continue in the stead of Hon. E.T Mensah but it was to be. It wasn't long before he was
rocked with a $46,000 scandal which subsequently led to his incarceration. After him came a host of other -
Yaw Osafo Marfo, Dominic Fobih, Rashid Bawa, Paapa Owusu Ankomah, Kwadwo Baah Wiredu and Edward Osei Kweku. It
was a clear indication that all was not well at the Ministry of Youth and Sports because the turn-over of ministers was
alarming compared to the other ministries.
When The NPP regime ended in 2008 and the NDC took over in 2009, many, thought it was going to be the end of the
'musical chairs' at the ministry but that was not to be. The Status quo continued unabated with the latest casualty being Hon.
Mahama Ayariga who has been replaced with Hon. Mustapha Ahmed.
The following ministers preceded Hon. Mustapha Ahmed since the NDC took over in 2009- Mubarak Muntaka, Rashid
Pelpuo, Ekua Sena Dansua, Clement Ko Humado, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah and lately, Mahama Ayariga.
Put all together and you'll have 14 ministers in 14 years - an average of one minister per year. A lot of people are at a loss
as to why ministers at our beloved Sports Ministry are unable to survive where their colleagues in the other ministries are not
reshufed as often. There are ve commandments for every minister who is keen on succeeding at this ministry:
1st Commandment: Do not make the Ministry a
'Black Stars' Ministry.
Most minister had their reigns truncated because
of their extreme involvement with the Black Stars -
Ali Yusif Issah, Muntaka Mubarak, Ekua Sena
Dansua, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah and Mahama
Ayariga, just to mention a few. Give what is due
the Black Stars to them but don't be following them
around. It could be your banana peel.
2nd Commandment: Do not relent on giving the
less nanced sports their due. It's theirs so give it to
them.
Virtually all the ministers who have passed through
this ministry have paid little attention to the other
sporting disciplines aside football. There are
about 37 sports associations and the ministry's
budget must be shared in a way that they all get
their widow's mite. For more than two years, none
of the associations, apart from football, has
received any budgetary support from the ministry
which made the ministers in charge, unpopular
among these associations. Help to expose them to
sub-regional and international tournaments.
Obviously we could have talents in others
discipline too. It shouldn't always be football. Their
success is tied to yours.
3rd Commandment: Do not underrate and
disrespect sports journalist: You can't win that battle.
Sports journalists are undoubtedly the most
powerful in this country. There are over 300 radio
stations across the country and almost every one of
them has a sport program every day. This means
that issues pertaining to the ministry, and the
minister, will always be discussed therefore you
need to have a cordial relationship with the sports
journalists. The media, being the fourth estate of
the country, will keep close tabs on you. Your
actions and inactions will be scrutinized and
interrogated thoroughly. Never disrespect them or
underrate them in the least. You could ask your
predecessors.
4th Commandment: Do not relegate the National
Sports Authority (NSA) to the
background. It would be costly.
Apart from the Football Association
whic h has become a semiautonomous
body, all the other
sports disciplines fall under the
jurisdiction of the NSA therefore, it will
be suicidal for you to ignore them
altogether or pay lip-service to
them…I bet you, all the associations
demand their pound of esh from you.
Liaise with them and get their activities
calendar for the year.
5th Commandment: Do not forget to
build the capacity of your staff. They
need it.
All the ministers who have passed
through the ministry of Sports are
noble. They are astute in their
respective elds but they leave the
ministry, mostly head bowed down.
The little mistakes those around you
make will ultimately be tabled at
your door step. You will surely bear
the br unt for any seeming
incompetence they may exhibit. If you
watched the Justice Dzamefe led Presidential
Commission of Inquiry, then you are well
aware of what I'm insinuation
I am sure you have been wondering
why the turn-over at your new
ministry is so high but with these, I
reckon that you now have some vivid
view of what to expect when you get to
the 'Red Hot Ministry'.
By: Isaac Asempah
39 www.mygong.net