Olympus has fallen # 12

The inquest has sounded, giving birth to a ‘’tantrum’’, leading to uncompromising viewpoints. It has shaken the foundations of an institution, the dagger has crossed its ends, leaving no sharp edges and the nation has kept silent, waiting to hear from the front liners.

Investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, has taken a bite again. This time, the dealers of the arena, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) are the target of the inquest. The action has led to a public discourse.

Ghana, a beautiful Nation with hospitable people, the only place where peace can be enjoyed with an incalculable measure, is put in the eyes of the world but not for its peace. The news about Ghana this time is not how far we will be going in the World Cup 2018, no! It’s about an alleged scandal that has rocked the nation’s passion – football.

Many nations rise and fall; many individuals upsurge and tumble, many empires upswing and collapse, Hector of Troy fell, his brother Paris continued, Sepp Blatter the Swiss towed that line but Gianni Infantino, another, of the Swiss lineage took over the baton. Is it now the turn of the former GFA president, Kwesi Nyantakyi? Life still continues.

The former President rose through the heights becoming the GFA president in 2005; under his presidency, Ghana qualified for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the country’s first World Cup qualification. Ghana again qualified for the 2010 South Africa World Cup and Brazil 2014. His tenure of office saw the Ghana U-20 football team also winning Africa’s first and only U-20 World Cup in 2009.

In 2011, West Africa Football Union president, Amos Adamu, was suspended by FIFA and Kwesi Nyantakyi was made the interim President of WAFU until the union conducted its election on May 31, 2011, seeing Nyantakyi climbing to the WAFU Presidency.

In fact, Kwesi rose so fast to become a member of the FIFA Council and was supposed to be voting in the bidding of the World cup 2026. His rise to the apex of his career was admirable but all seem to have crumbled within minutes when an undercover journalist, Anas Aremeyaw revealed the other side of him to the world.

What does this tell the world? Olympus has fallen and it is time for reformation and a time to rebirth. We all owe a duty from the investigative journalist Anas’ work. Indeed, we owe it to restore the breakages and the cesspits of our game, locally and for that matter, continent.

We have a duty to refrain from actions that will mar our reputations and that of the country and subsequently jeopardize our game and passion.

We are crestfallen but we must learn from a country like Germany who was once divided along Eastern and Western lines and their reunification in 1990. Stories like that must give us confidence for a rebirth and help us stay alive and united.

While our football might not have headway right now, there is always confidence that for every fall, there will be a rise and we shall rise again just as it was in the case of divided Germany and many others who fell in the past.

In all, we must strive to build a proud Africa, a proud Ghana.