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An Executive Council member of the Ghana League Clubs Association, Kofi Poku says the position of Youth and Sports Minister should be a non-partisan position.

Poku, speaking on GTV’s Sunday Night Live Programme, stated that such a move would allow whoever is appointed enough time to implement a workable vision for sports in Ghana.

He was reacting to the latest reshuffle which has seen Mahama Ayariga replaced by Dr. Mustapha Ahmed at the Ministry of Youth and Sports; representing a 15th appointment to the position since 2001.

“I believe that it is time the position is made non-partisan. Even with four year terms of government, Sports Ministers are changed all the time and so there is no time for them to achieve something. If the appointment is devoid of political influence, whoever is chosen would have enough time to implement his vision, regardless of which government is in office.”

Speaking on the same platform, the managing director of Division One Outfit, Kurt Okraku described the way sports has been treated by respective governments as a joke, adding that some of the appointed sports ministers do not have a clue about sports.

“It is so sad. The way our governments have treated sports is a joke. Meanwhile, sport employs so many youthful people. Even my Dreams FC, which is a very small club, employs about 50 people. So imagine how many people are employed by the 48 division one clubs, the 16 Premier League Clubs, the many second division clubs around the country and in colts as well. This is only football. What about the other disciplines? Some of the Ministers also have no clue when it comes to sports and that is why there have been so many appointments at that ministry.”

The Vice Chairman of GHALCA, Isaac Wilberforce Koomson, also on the Sunday Night Live programme, expressed his pain with the regular changes at the Sports Ministry, noting that it impedes plans the Association has for the clubs as a welfare body.

“Every time there is a new minister, as GHALCA we go in to sell our ideas. By the time the Minister in charge gets sold on our ideas, he is taken out and another person is appointed, leaving us to start all over again. It is really bad for us and that stops us from putting any long term plan in place.”