NGO Sports For Hope-Ghana has sent a proposal to the Normalisation Committee on how to get football in the country back on track.
Background
The Ghanaman Soccer Centre of excellence at Prampram in the Greater Accra Region, which was constructed 14 years ago, as part of the FIFA Goal Project, was aimed at providing funds for the improvement of football infrastructure in developing countries. It was expected that this would help bridge the infrastructural gap between the developed and the developing countries.
Through a progressive process, Ghana has reached the Goal Five stage of the Goal Project. Funds were provided by FIFA, GFA and to some extent the Government of Ghana.
-Goal l was the initial construction of the technical Centre at Prampram, named the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of excellence.
-Goal ll was investment in the “House of Football”, the current headquarters of the Ghana Football Association.
-Goal lll was investment in a Multi-purpose dining and conference facility at the Centre.
-Goal lV was investment in the construction of a football academy, learning Centers, Pitches and offices for administrative purposes
-Goal V was investment in the construction of an artificial turf
Sports for Hope-Ghana, has observed that, despite all these infrastructural developments, the Centre in its current state, is being under-utilized and poorly managed.
Apart from serving as camping grounds for the Junior and female national teams and occasional coaching programs, the Centre is not operating at its maximum capacity.
Our Solution/Suggestions
We recommend that the Normalization committee develop a strategic plan for the Centre.
Other uses of the Centre must include the following;
Form a Residential National Juvenile Academy
The current arrangement of recruitment to the national under 17 team is ad-hoc and lacks any policy direction. Anytime the national under 17 team fails to qualify for a major tournament to showcase their talent to the world, the team is disbanded. Only few of them get the chance to progress in their career. This creates school drop-outs in the system, with its attendant consequences.
Sports for Hope-Ghana recommend the following:
I. They will form the nucleus of the Junior National Teams. They can also play in the Ghana Leagues, Professional leagues abroad
II. Transitioned into the universities, Technical/Vocational schools and scholarships to study abroad.
III. Apprenticeship/Internship- Work-based apprenticeship within Sport, leisure or fitness industries
IV. Employment- Roles within sport, management, leisure etc.
Conclusion
It is our hope and the hope of all Ghanaians that this initiative by the Normalization Committee, if properly coordinated, would once again, put Ghana football at the pinnacle of world football in general and Africa in particular. Ghanaians have lost hope in Ghana football but bringing back this hope is not far fetch. Ghana has the raw talents in football. The problem is management. We wish to encourage all Ghanaian football enthusiasts to lend their support for a better Ghana.
Sport for Hope, is an independent, Non-Partisan, Non-Profit Sport for Development Organization based in Ghana. We are Dedicated to the promotion of Development through Sport. We aim to achieve our objectives through Advocacy, Programs, and Research.
Abdul Wahab Musah
0244934527/0081-9074043053
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