Kwabena Yeboah reveals why he rejected sports minister offers

Renowned Ghanaian football commentator, Kwabena Yeboah has revealed why he rejected the opportunity to serve in the sports ministry on several occasions.

Yeboah, who is currently the President of the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) was contacted on numerous occasions to become the sports minister under former Presidents, John Agyekum Kufour and John Evans Atta Mills.

Veteran Sports Journalist Kwabena Yeboah has revealed he declined two appointments to become a deputy sports minister by former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and John Atta Mills (late) but declined.

However, in an interview with Starr FM, the ace journalist has disclosed why he rejected those offers.

“I don’t think that you need to be a minister to play your role in [the development of] this country,”

“I believe people can play different roles without necessarily picking ministerial appointments.

“I don’t think ministers are necessarily the most important people. Many people don’t trust politicians around the world, especially in Africa.

“It is mindboggling that personalities you knew a few years ago enter politics and within a space of 2-3-4 years become millionaires.

“A lot of people think that if you are offered that position, why don’t you go there and make some money? It’s not the way it works.

“I was just reading something, and it says ‘to be trusted is more important than being loved’. For me, integrity is so key.

“I know the love Kufuor, I call him Papa, had for me and Mallam Issah, who was then his first Sports Minister. I was supposed to serve under him but I politely declined.

“Then President Mills offered me that position. Again, I politely declined.

“Politics is so toxic; we must do something about it. Politics shouldn’t be as toxic as we find it in this country. It is just a clash of ideas as to how best to run this country and in attempt to serve the people.

“But most African leaders, what they do is not to serve the people, they come to fill their pockets and bellies, which is most unfortunate.

“I guess it is the reason a lot of people want to get into politics to see how much they can starch away, and it creates an air of mistrust and suspicion. Politics has become a shortcut to success in Africa.”