Sports Analyst Ekow Asmah has called for the establishment of an independent football regulator in Ghana to oversee the organisation and regulation of football competitions and address longstanding challenges within the game.
Speaking to Isaac Addae on Morning Starr on Starr FM, Ekow said Ghana should learn from reforms undertaken in England, where an independent football regulator has been established to oversee aspects of the sport.
He argued that the current structure, where the Ghana Football Association (GFA) is responsible for regulating itself, has contributed to challenges within Ghana football.
According to Mr Ekow, an independent regulator would take responsibility for the organisation of competitions and other regulatory functions, while allowing the football authorities and clubs to continue managing their respective sporting operations.
“When we have an independent football regulator, then it will take over the authority of the league. The FA, football people with their clubs, they can continue to hold on to their roles. But its organisation and its competitions and all of that will be handled solely by the independent football regulator,” he said.
Mr Ekow said such a regulator should be independent of the issues he believes have affected the administration of Ghana football, including allegations of bribery and corruption, underpayment, match manipulation and impersonation in the Premier League.
He believes stronger independent oversight would help improve the quality of the Ghana Premier League and, in turn, provide a stronger pool of players for the Black Stars.
“Then we’ll get the best out of the Premier League to reinforce the Black Stars and we’ll get better results going forward,” he said.
Mr Ekow said Ghana could draw lessons from England and Spain in restructuring the governance of football and urged authorities to consider the approach as part of a broader reset of the sport.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/Pamela Quayson
