Ghana Football Association (GFA) communications director Henry Asante Twum has attributed the delay in the naming of a new head coach for the Black Stars to the bureaucratic nature of the process.
Asante Twum hinted to Ghanaians that a new coach would be announced by the end of January 2023, revealing that the FA had several names to choose from.
However, he claims that has not happened because the power to appoint does not only rest with the FA, but also with stakeholders, particularly the sports ministry, which explains the delay.
“If the appointment of a Black Stars coach was to be the responsibility of the FA alone, it would have been done easily, but in this case, it is a long process of talks with all stakeholders.
“Even after speaking to the coach, the FA will have to meet and inform the ministry, discuss salary, and agree on a figure, reverse to the coach to renegotiate. These processes sometimes delay the appointment.
“Yes, the announcement has been delayed. In the minds of the FA, we were thinking of naming the coach latest by the end of January but that did not happen,” he told Kumasi-based Akoma FM.
He reassured Ghanaians to expect an announcement ‘very soon’ but however refused to give a timeline.
“A lot of discussions are ongoing between the ministry and the FA. I cannot give a specific time or day to that effect but very soon when talks are concluded,[a new Black Stars coach will be announced]” he added.
Technical Advisor Chris Houghton, on the other hand, is reportedly leading the race to replace Otto Addo, who stepped down following Ghana’s poor World Cup campaign in Qatar last December.
Former boss James Kwesi Appiah is also relishing the opportunity for a third stint with the Black Stars.
The team’s next task is a doubleheader against Angola in the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers in March.
Source: Frank Appiah