The upcoming Rag congress (II)
It is now almost certain that the 2013 Referees Association of Ghana (RAG) Congress will come off as planned in the Brong Ahafo regional capital of Sunyani at the end of this month.
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Unfortunately, and as usual, there is more attention on the national executive committee elections than any other item on the agenda. I hear my good friend, Mr Doku, the current Volta Regional Chairman is one of the prominent persons contesting the treasurership portfolio. I skipped his name in the previous discussion. We wish him well.
I know by now there will be serious skirmishes in the compilation the list of delegates. Although the procedure is for the regional chairman, the secretary and one other regional member to compose the three-member delegate, the lack of trust and confidence in how some regional delegate members may vote always make this time- honoured arrangement impossible.
Powerful and influential regional chairmen manage to select only delegates they trust will vote in a particular direction. Well, this is politics, and politics is about tactics, influence and numbers.
In weaker regions, the choice of delegates is also heavily influenced from outside considerations. Some regional chairmen happen to be so weak and dependent that they bargain their regional interest for something else. And that is where the strong and powerful regional chairmen step in to ward off these influences from national officers or persons with their own interest and agenda. That is politics for you - even with referees who are trained to be fair and firm.
I remember very well when I was the regional chairman of the Greater Accra Region, we had a similar problem but I was able to accommodate it. Due to the fact that the region was made up of two districts – Accra and Tema, we always had a representative from Tema.
For some personal reasons that delegate never voted our way although the remaining two of us were always carrying the mandate of the whole region. That is part of the politics. When I feed and sponsor your child how can you disagree with me.
I recollect very vividly when the Greater Accra Region decided at its general meeting that FIFA Referees should pay match taxes from their international allowances to the national RAG we had very stiff opposition from some of the regions. We went forward with our proposal and won very narrowly. That was in the 80s or early 90s at the Tamale Congress.
Since then, the FIFA referees have been paying the same 20 per cent of their allowances into the RAG cofers and that has been the main source of revenue and finance for RAG activities including the payment of allowances and expenses for the same national RAG executives who stood against and campaigned not in favour of our proposals.
Now, why did they oppose our tax proposals? Simply because a few of them were personally receiving some few dollars directly from some FIFA referees. This clearly shows that we should always try and have regional executives who would be committed to both the regional and national interest.
Most of us are born to be selfish and inward looking. It is therefore hoped that our delegates to the Sunyani Congress will put the national interest before any other considerations.
As I pointed out sometime ago, I was told that a delegate from one of the regions fought very hard to be included in his region’s Koforidua Congress delegation to enable him cast his vote for a particular candidate so as to get a FIFA badge. He succeeded in attending the congress and voted; his prepared candidate did win, but he never had his FIFA badge and will never get because he is now over-aged. FIFA batches; really creditable FIFA batches come from God.
One may succeed in having one, but because may be, it is not deserved, you may travel only once or twice and remain like a local referee. The Good Old Book teaches us that promotion doesn’t come from the East, West, etc.
It is therefore my prayer that all our delegates will travel to Sunyani at our expense and support and take decisions that will inure to the progress, growth and future development of the referees association. These are matters of fact and my way of commentary.
I therefore hope that nobody will think that I have deviated and gone back to my ‘bad old ways’ of attacking some personalities.
As I pointed out earlier, it is important that we should not devote our entire mind to the elections of National Executive Committee Members. There will be very serious and critical issues on the agenda. Our delegates should pay better and serious attention to crucial problems affecting their members within their various regions.
There should be serious discussions about the RAG benevolent fund, its operations; including investments into financial areas to yield higher and better dividend. The benevolent fund is our only social security and real benefit. The question of remuneration and allowances are half-forbidden and near no-go areas and so we can leave it at that. But if and when some delegates discover their confidence and firmness, why not.
Above all, it is my conviction that, as an association in the 21st century, we should take a hard and progressive look at the number of delegates who decide who should be our national officers and leaders. We all pay monthly dues and contribute financially to the maintenance, growth and development of the association. Why should we depend on only some forty delegates to trust our future into our national officers, most of whom may not use their positions to defend our needs, desires and wishes: Our electoral commission has got officers in every refereeing district and region.
On the day of election therefore, it should be possible to have simultaneous elections at every district or regional level. I do think that this should not be too much for us to practice in democratic Ghana.
Our two most popular political parties have expanded their electoral colleges and I hear the NDC is even thinking of allowing all their card bearing members to participate in their national elections. Why not referees with less than one thousand members?
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