On Friday, August 7, 2020, in Kumasi, Nana Yaw Amponsah was finally unveiled as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kotoko replacing George Amoako, who left the club following the inauguration of a new twelve member Board of Directors.
The 2019 Ghana Football Association (GFA) presidential candidate has been widely endorsed by former Kotoko management members,National Circles Council and other supporters groups of the club due to his requisite experience in football administration.
A key member of the Board of Directors, Mr Kofi Amoa-Abban before the unveiling of Nana Yaw Amponsah tweeted to congratulate and pledge his support for him but do you know there is a special connection between these two men.
Well, there is a unique relationship between Kofi Abban and Nana Yaw Amponsah, Did you know they have been friends from their Senior Secondary School (SSS) days at Mfantipim School in Cape Coast.
Kofi Abban and Nana Yaw Amponsah were mates and completed Mfantsipim School in the year 2001 and were the best of friends and seen as brothers virtually by their MOBA mates.
They spent most of the time together at the library and always planned for the future together. And so it’s least surprising to me that both have met at Kotoko to work together.
They maintained their respect and friendship at the tertiary level as both were admitted at the University of Ghana, Legon to pursue tertiary Education but that could not keep these two friends apart.
The relationship was so unique that Nana Yaw Amponsah was the official campus “barber” for his MOBA mate Kofi Abban.
Nana Yaw Amponsah graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and Political Science from the University of Ghana, Legon, and a Master’s Degree in Sports Law and Practice from the Leicester DE Montfort University, UK. He was also given the opportunity to pursue a Ph.D. in Sports Leadership at Concordia University in the United States of America (USA).
From the year 2008 Nana Yaw Amponsah became a Licensed FIFA Player Agent/Intermediary and has transferred several Ghanaian footballers across the globe, which accruing huge funds for several Ghanaian clubs in the process.
Meanwhile, Kofi Abban graduated with a degree in Psychology and pursued a master’s degree at the Oslo University in Norway.
In 2011, Kofi Amoa-Abban started his firm, Rigworld from a small office in Osu, Accra providing recruitment services to the burgeoning oil and gas industry in Ghana. Prior to that, he had served as a drill crew member with Atwood Hunter responsible for the TEAK1, TEAK 2, and Banda Wells. In July 2015 Kofi Amoa-Abban co-founded PressureTech, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rigworld International Services, which offers engineering solutions to Oil and Gas companies in Ghana and beyond.
After graduating successfully from University of Ghana, they maintained their friendship and consistently shared ideas together. When Nana Yaw Amponsah heard, Kofi Abban wanted to venture in Oil and Gas in the cooperate world, the former,Nana Yaw Amponsah was impressed with the decision of Mr Abban and pledged his support for him. After being successful in the corporate world, one person I am sure Kofi will never forget is Nana Yaw Amponsah. The support was amazing.
With both now working to restore the pride and reignite the passion of the Fabulous club, supporters should not be surprised to see these two working together a lot of the time because of the long-standing relationship between these two MOBA brothers.
Asante Kotoko is a club that has a rich history and tradition and with Nana Yaw Amponsah and Kofi Abban a board member, I am convinced they will surely take the club places with their combined rich experience from the football world for Nana Yaw Amponsah and Corporate world from Kofi Abban. Interestingly these two are the youngest in the Asante Kotoko new Board of Directors and so are expected to bring on board innovation, Modernization and vibrancy to the sleeping Giant of African Football(Asante Kotoko)
By: Bismark Owusu Bempah(Ayala)
