Ghana FA boss Kwesi Nyantakyi is to step down from heading the Black Stars after mounting internal pressure, Citi Sports understands.
The Chairman of the Black Stars Management Committee position is one of the most strategic and most coveted among the FA’s inner circle because of the power that comes with it.
With the senior national team being Ghana football’s flagship brand, whoever is in charge has considerable influence. And that is why Nyantakyi took over the position from his former Vice President Fred Pappoe.
Pappoe had occupied the position from 2005 until 2011.
Since that time, Nyantakyi has been criticised for giving himself too much to chew since managing the Black Stars is a notoriously detailed job.
It is this apparent lack of detail that, internal sources tell Citi Sports, is the reason why the national team has been floundering since Nyantakyi took over in 2011.
The final straw
Matters have come to a head in the last 24 hours after the Ghana FA’s highest decision-making body, the Executive Committee, prevailed upon the administrator to relinquish the position.
The Ghana team has in the last three major tournaments seen consistent reports of indiscipline, infighting, bizarre black magic claims and bonus fiascoes, things which were largely absent – or if they did, almost never became public – when Pappoe was at the helm.
What it means
Watchers say this decision could be just one of many internal reforms needed for the Ghana FA to gain public trust in its workings, at a time when the country has seen its image dented by the public airlifting of $3M to pay player bonuses in Brazil.
But with Nyantakyi even more determined not to resign altogether, despite increasing calls for him to do so, others also believe this move is just a gimmick to keep fans quiet while business as usual continues.
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By Gary Al-Smith/citifmonline.com/Ghana