Appiah to contest GFA ExCo position

Former Black Stars coach, Kwasi Appiah, has thrown his hat into the ring to be elected as a member of the Executive Council (ExCo) of the Ghana Football Association (GFA).

The football fraternity is scheduled to elect new executive members to run the affairs of the sport’s regulatory body for a four-year term at the elective congress of the GFA scheduled for September 27 at the Redaach Memorial Hotel in Tamale.

Appiah, who is currently a member of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of Asante Kotoko, would be contesting alongside 10 other football administrators for the five slots for Premier League clubs.

19 Candidates
According to GFA statement, 19 candidates submitted their nomination forms to the elections committee of the FA by the close of nomination on Friday, August 11. 

They include George Kwasi Afriyie, a former Vice-President of the FA during the Kwesi Nyantakyi’s administration, who is the only candidate contesting the incumbent FA boss, Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, for the position of the GFA president.

Should Appiah, 62, triumph in this pursuit, he would not only secure a significant role within the GFA but also become the first prominent football figure to join the influential decision-making echelons of the association since 2001 when former national captain, Abedi Pele, was nominated to serve on the management board of the GFA, headed by a former national star and onetime Black Stars coach, Ben Koufie. 

There are 11 candidates contesting for five slots for Premier League Clubs and they comprise the CEO of Karela FC, Elloeny Amande; Dr Ransford (Randy) Anertey Abbey of Heart of Lions, Raphael Tawiah Gyambrah, Amadu Moro Brimah of Accra Hearts of Oak, Onyina Asenso of Legon Cities, Kingsley Osei Bonsu of Bechem United, Edmund Kwabena Ackah of FC Samartex 1996 and Nana Sarfo Oduro of Berekum Chelsea, Frederick Acheampong and Dr Anthony Kwesi Aubynn of Medeama SC.

Other contestants
Five candidates from the Division One League are also contesting for three slots available for second tier clubs and comprise Samuel Anim Addo of Young Apostles, incumbent GFA Vice-President, Mark Addo of Nzema Kotoko, Alexander Ababio, Gideon Fosu and Eugene Nobel Nii Amon Noel.

The CEO of Women’s Premier League side Berry Ladies, Gifty Afia Oware-Mensah, is the sole candidate for the single slot for women’s football clubs.
As many as 19 candidates have also filed to contest for the 10 regional FA positions, with a candidate each vying for the Eastern and Ashanti regional FA positions.