Veteran football administrator Nana Fitzgerald Barkers Woode, widely known as Nana Fitz, has urged the Government of Ghana to investigate how the Ghana Football Association (GFA) spent public money on the Black Stars’ participation in the FIFA World Cup.
Nana Fitz said the GFA must explain how funds were used for the World Cup and for previous editions of the tournament, despite FIFA’s opposition to government interference in the running of football.
He argued that the Black Stars and Ghana’s other national teams are financed largely by taxpayers, meaning the GFA has a duty to be transparent with the public.
“The government should immediately call on the GFA to account for every amount spent on the World Cup, including previous tournaments,” he said.
Speaking to the Graphic Sports yesterday, the former Cornerstones boss questioned whether FIFA was fully aware of the scale of government support for football in Ghana.
He said FIFA regulations should not be used to prevent public scrutiny of the way national-team funding is managed.
Nana Fitz also pointed to the prominent role played by government officials during Ghana’s participation in major international competitions. He said state representatives frequently lead the country’s delegations, while the government also provides financial backing for the teams.
“Whenever the national team travels for international competitions, it is a government representative who leads the delegation. If government is involved at that level and provides the funding, why should it not demand accountability for how the money is spent?” he asked.
He said the extent of government involvement in financing and representing the national teams raised questions about why the state should have little influence over the administration of football.
Nana Fitz also called for changes to the GFA’s electoral system, claiming that the current structure gives disproportionate influence to a small number of stakeholders.
He criticised the make-up of the GFA Congress, which consists largely of club owners and their representatives. In his view, that arrangement leaves the electoral process open to manipulation.
“Those who vote at Congress are mainly club owners and their representatives, and many of the clubs are owned by or closely associated with football officials. That makes it easier for a few individuals to influence the outcome of elections,” he alleged.
The experienced administrator further accused the GFA of referring to FIFA regulations selectively, particularly when it believes there has been an attempt by outside authorities to interfere in football administration.
He questioned whether FIFA had approved the decision to amend the GFA’s statutes, allowing the association’s president to serve a maximum of three terms.
Nana Fitz maintained that the GFA’s current leadership had not done enough to resolve the problems facing Ghana football. He called for reforms that would widen participation in the governance of the sport and create greater opportunities for experienced administrators to contribute to its revival.
He also raised concerns about continued spending on the Black Stars without what he considers sufficient accountability to the public. His criticism comes, he said, at a time when other sporting disciplines and areas of Ghana’s sports sector continue to struggle with limited financial support.
Although he acknowledged that football has developed into a major global business, Nana Fitz said Ghana had gained little from the considerable investment made in the sport over the years.
He urged the Minister for Sports and Recreation to take a stronger lead in demanding accountability within football administration.
Nana Fitz also called on the GFA President to put the long-term development of Ghana football ahead of personal interests.
