Government is not imposing coaches on GFA – Henry Asante Twum

Ghana Football Association [GFA] Communications Director, Henry Asante Twum has dismissed reports suggesting that government is forcing a new coach on the FA.

The Black Stars coaching job has been vacant following the sacking of Milovan Rajevac last month after Ghana’s abysmal performance at the just ended 2021 Africa Cup of Nations [AFCON] in Cameroon.

Otto Addo, who was part of Rajevac’s technical team has been touted to take up the job after the leadership of the football governing body held talks with him in Germany.

However, multiple reports in the local media suggest that government has communicated to the FA that Chris Hughton must be named the new Black Stars coach.

“I don’t know about any such decision. As far as I am concerned, we haven’t met the ministry. I know that we are stakeholders in development, the government is recognized in providing infrastructure and funds for the development of football but as technocrats we are responsible for the decision-making,” Asante Twum told Joy News.

“So yes, these are things we read in the media every day. You wake up to stories in the press that the government is trying to impose a coach on the FA – I don’t remember sitting in any such meeting since our last meeting with the minister for sports which called for the dismissal of the technical team and also the dismissal of the management committee: that has been our last engagement as a body. The ExCo takes responsibilities of such decisions, they have the powers of appointment so they will need to convene a meeting.

Asante-Twum also dismissed reports that the GFA had appointed Hughton as Black Stars head coach. Nonetheless, he confirmed that he is part of a list of candidates.

“My last conversation with the [GFA] President was that the talks [with Otto Addo] have been positive, but it comes with certain conditions as well. Yes, the FA appoints, but government takes care of the expenses and what have you, so you need to come back and engage government and see if you would be at par in terms of decision making. From then you can progress. I don’t know about any such decision [regarding Chris Houghton’s appointment].”

The GFA is expected to make announcement of a new Black Stars coach. The Black Stars will play Nigeria in the 2022 World Cup playoff in March.