Graphic Editorial: Truth Stands

The debate surrounding the dismissal of Kwasi Appiah as head coach of the senior national team, the Black Stars, will not die very soon. The Daily Graphic has, since the breaking of the news, chosen to devote our editorial column to the issue as a matter of principle.

Indeed, had the victim been black, coloured, white or of any description, our stand would not have changed, for “truth”. as William Shakespeare opined, “is like a mirror; it reflects only what it sees and that is why man hates it”.

We would like to promise our loyal readers that an injustice anywhere is purely an injustice, no matter who commits it or where it is committed. The Appiah case is downright injustice and we insist on that — pure and simple. 

Wrong is wrong. We say that the manner in which the coach was axed is wrong; it does not matter whose ox is gored. 

It does not make sense to reason that the same Ghana Football Association (GFA) which, after the World Cup, said it stood by the coach should now turn round and sack him after giving him a new task to qualify the team for the Morocco 2015 Orange African Cup of Nations tournament. 

The wrongful way in which Coach Appiah’s appointment was terminated becomes even more evident when we consider that it took place at a time he was proving equal to the task, having played two matches, won one and drawn one and the team being joint leaders with Uganda in their group.

What, therefore, is the justification in dismissing him? 

Again, the manner in which the GFA tried to force a technical adviser on him is another sore point. Who would have taken ultimate responsibility if the coach had not been able to qualify the team for Morocco? The impression had been created that the technical adviser was being appointed at the request of Coach Appiah. Apparently, that was NOT true, and when Appiah comes out to set the records straight, why do we punish him for saying it as it is?

The point is now being made in certain circles that Appiah is incompetent, after all, and deserves the sack. 

We dare ask: Does the GFA hold the same view? We are amazed that after sacking Appiah, Maxwell Konadu, who was his assistant, has now been asked to hold the fort. What is the logic behind this decision? If Appiah was not good enough, are we now being made to understand that his assistant can do a better job?

Listening to Coach Appiah on Metro TV’s Good Evening Ghana programme on Tuesday night,  one could not be confused that it was evident the conditions created by the GFA, the Black Stars Management Committee and the government for the team in Brazil in relation to the payment of appearance fees so much affected the psychology of the players that it was extremely difficult for the coach and the team to succeed under those excruciating circumstances. 

We, therefore, find it illogical for a section of society to argue that Coach Appiah lacked self-confidence and self-belief, saying that he was not able to discipline the players. But we also know that elsewhere in the so-called advanced societies, notable players sometimes display their disagreement in very rude ways.

It all shows that the GFA took a hasty decision to sack him without thinking through the consequences of their action. 

The Daily Graphic demands that the GFA must come again!