That one should be non-negotiable, it must be a done deal, there should be no two ways about Herbert Mensah being appointed as the Sports Minister for Ghana. It is high time Ghanaian presidents looked out for competent, honest and fair people for the various ministerial roles rather than corrupt and unscrupulous friends and family members.
Politicians and party fanatics have enjoyed almost all the big positions in the history of Ghana without considering the interests of the populace. This attitude has led to people milking the nation financially. These same officials will move from ministerial appointment A to B by the president which always brings doom.
A country that lacks accountability can never thrive with the appointment of only party members as Ministers. Definitely, they will siphon all the cash without facing the laws as the case has been for the last four decades.
The last Sports Minister, Mustapha Ussif could end up as the worst sports minister in the entire history of Ghana. His performance was below shambolic.
Truth be told, he was never up to the task as he acted so timid and careless on the seat. Mustapha Ussif enjoyed the big position because he is a party member meaning he was there to just satisfy the outgoing NPP at the expense of Ghanaian Sports.
During his three-year reign, every sporting discipline suffered but nothing was said to him. Who was supposed to call him to order since things were out of order for Ghana?
The president was the man to do that but he failed to warn one of his beloved sons and it led them to the abyss.
At the 13th All African Games that Ghana hosted earlier in 2024 in Accra, Ghanaian athletes complained bitterly of support from the sports ministry. That was the moment he should have lost his position because he failed to do the basics. Sports in Ghana have deteriorated to the extent that people don’t even know that we have athletes aside from footballers and sprinters.
Attention is always given to the senior national team at the expense of every sporting discipline in the country. At the Bahamas in the World Athletics Relay qualifier for Paris 2024, Ghanaian athletes complained bitterly about zero care from the government even though they were able to secure a ticket to the Paris Olympic Games.
The sports minister never once said anything about the state of the Ghana Premier League. He read, watched and saw the state of venues in the league, he heard all the match-fixing allegations and kept mute. This isn’t leadership but rather satisfying somebody’s interest.
If President-elect John Dramani Mahama wants the best for Ghanaian Sports, he should not consider the political background of the legendary Herbert Mensah for the role because he has all the elements to send Ghanaian sports to the promised land.
Flashback to the late 90s when Asante Kotoko was in unbelievable trouble, this was the man that the late Nana Osei Tutu II trusted to turn the fortunes of the club around. Herbert Mensah was appointed the Board Chairman for the Porcupine Warriors in 1999 and exceeded expectations and made Asante Kotoko the club it was in the 1970s, 80s and early 90s.
Rumours have been around recently that Asante Kotoko is considering the big man for the CEO role in their bid to revive the dying club.
Herbert Mensah is respected worldwide because of his selflessness and dedication to sports. Currently, the Kumawu-born Herbert Amponsah Mensah is the President of World Rugby’s African Association, Rugby Africa, the governing body of Rugby in Africa becoming the first Anglophone President since the establishment of Rugby Africa.
He recently critiqued how football is been run in the country after Ghana failed to qualify for the 2025 AFCON. The senior national is an avenue for football people to make dough and Herbert Mensah made mentioning of the GFA looking for sponsorships away from the government to finance the national team.
John Dramani Mahama must choose the best for the nation but not the incoming National Democratic Party because he is to serve every Ghanaian. The best out there who ticks all the boxes to bring the country back to her normal self is Herbert Mensah.
Per Yaw Prekoh of Kapital971.com, Sampson Deen, Herbert Mensah, Kobe Woyome and Ben Nunoo Mensah have all been considered for the hot seat.
Boxing, Football, Athletics, Rugby, volleyball, Netball, Swimming and many other sporting disciplines will be well catered for like the Black Stars when Herbert rules.
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