Berry Ladies boss ready for GFA ExCo slot

The owner of Women’s Premier League side, Berry Ladies, Dr. Gifty Oware-Mensah has declared her readiness to bring her expertise on board as a representative of women’s football on the Executive Committee (ExCo) of the Ghana Football Association (GFA).

The 37-year-old politician, who has served in football administration for over a decade, is determined to ensure that women footballers and administrators reap the necessary benefits from their toil as they help to raise high the flag of Ghana.

Touting her credentials in an interview with Graphic Online, Dr Oware-Mensah said: “I am a better candidate because of the continuation and policy proposals I present. I believe the message is what defines each contender.”

She was of the view that tackling women’s football development from the grassroots with primary focus on policy planning and education, as well as alternative vocations for the footballers, was the remedy for the women’s game in the country. 

On what inspired the ExCo ambition, she said: “It’s about the passion to lead a charge to continue the works done by the incumbent, Hajia Habiba Atta, and the charge to finish the race she has started.”

Mrs. Oware-Mensah, who also serves as the Vice President of Ghana Premier League side, Berekum Chelsea, and Deputy Executive Director of the National Service Secretariat, described the current state of football administration in the country thus: “It is evolving into a proper system and I believe the future is bright.”

Berry Ladies

She noted that her club Berry Ladies, which finished fourth in the Southern Zone of the Women’s Premier League in the 2022/2023 season, will recruit more players to beef up the team, while considering a few changes in the technical department as well.

“We are obviously going to recruit new players. Patience is a virtue. When we start, all our surprises will be unveiled. But yes, we shall see a few changes,” she hinted.

“We are working around the clock to finalise new sponsorships and we know we shall come up with some amazing deals,” she recounted.

Mrs. Oware-Mensah, who is currently financing a school block for charity purposes, also revealed that her team would soon announce a date for the commissioning and unveiling of the project.

“Ours is to reach out to do the good work for the female football community. So anything that will bring fruition to it we shall add our support.”

She mentioned stereotyping and structural barriers as major challenges she had faced throughout her football administration stint.