Welcome Mr. Minister Designate

‘WOEZO’ EFO HUMADO!* *As would most likely be the case, the Vetting Committee of Parliament will upon assumption of its sitting look to vetting a number of ministers-designate, one of whom will be Clement Kofi Humado, gunning for the Youth and Sports Ministry.* * * It is most refreshing to have heard the minister-designate outline his vision for the portfolio he would be taking after the vetting process. Popular word out there though is that, there is nothing significantly different from what his predecessors have sought to achieve. The rhetoric about consolidating the gains made in lesser known sports and ensuring youth development have been with us as a country for ages, and a conscientious effort to go beyond the talk must be vigorously pursued. With the benefit of the past to guide us as we go into the future, any appointee to the Youth and Sports ministry would and should rightfully so be fully aware of the simple fact that, the place is a hotbed activities as stated by his immediate predecessor, Madam Sena Dansua. *“It is an interesting and challenging portfolio.”* At least Ghanaians have been told by no mean a person as the President, His Excellency John Evans Atta Mills, of how *every appointee to the place is billed to execute a particular task then exit for another.*** * * This has led to Efo Humado being the fourth man to occupy the seat that left two of his predecessors embattle on exit – Alhaji Muntaka and Akua Sena Dansua - except for Rashid Pelpuo, whose stint ended in a relatively short period. *On the part of Muntaka, here was one of the beneficiaries of the President’s trust in the youth within his party; his post looked a promising one but crumbled upon an attempt he made to implement what was an unpopular decision as to why fans had died at a game.* * * *“Lack of discretion,”** as Muntaka himself put it, also led to what has now become known as the **khebab and pampers** **episode **within the political landscape, he may have been cleared of the allegations but was never to return as minister till date.* * * *Rashid Pelpuo was perhaps a smooth sailor comparative to the two others who sandwiched him, as far as I can recall, he until his reassignment as deputy minority leader had the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) impasse as a major highlight as minister.* * * *It therefore came as no surprise at all that in the wake of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) ban of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) has been quick to explain why no body should blame the government for the ban. All of that is a story to be told some other day.* * * *In came Sena Dansua, who for most of the time that she was minister enjoyed several highs and of course, deep down lows as a rather frosty relationship seemed to have characterized her dealings with important stakeholders in sport - the media.* * * *Aside that, the minister looked to have jumped too quickly in respect of the GOC stand-off when she wrote a letter to colleague ministers belonging to the Olympic Movement to assert what she called their sovereignty as a nation and called off the IOC’s bluff and threat of a ban.* * * *Amongst other unpopular acts as openly accusing the media, and voices by a group from her own party calling for her dismissal from office during a press conference, the minister by her actions, always looked to be on her way out, little wonder she said she was not at all surprised at her reshuffle.* *All does not look bleak though, at least Efo will have the benefit of a long standing deputy minister, Nii Nortey Duah, who must have by now learnt the ropes so well to be of maximum support in moving the ministry’s agenda forward.* * * *Again, the long talked-of technocrats at the ministry should be of help to the minister who as much as possible, must refrain from meddling in the politics of sports associations as it comes along with its very dire implications at home and abroad.* * * *IOC/GOC KAYA* Perhaps the big issue that confronts the entry of the Voltarian into his newoffice will be the extent to which he can use diplomacy and tact to reversethe current IOC ban on GOC, in all of this, staying clear of the politicswithin. I need not emphasize how important sports in general is to the general Ghanaian populace and what will become of the ban if not as quickly as possible, rectified and Ghana reinstated into the Olympic Movement especially so as the London 2012 Games lurks. The political, social and economic implications of losing out on the Olympics for no other reason than for the one currently pertaining stretchesfurther than the near future and that is the harsh reality that Efo will have to face. *MEDIA – A ‘Necessary Evil’* *With the plurality of media and the competition thereof to get exclusives,the minister as it were, must be ready to answer calls from the myriad ofespecially radio networks littered all over the country, be it morning, afternoon or evening.* * * *It would be a good ride or a nightmare depending on how our minister-to-be, Efo Humado, handles the ministry, where the policies and lines of action are already in place, leadership and direction is what will be needed to steer the tide of a sensitive portfolio as the Youth and Sports ministry.* * * *From the perspective of **The New Crusading GUIDE Sports,** a good and safe ride for Efo Humado is our wish, as that will translate into better times for the sports generally in the country. Just as sportsmen must keep their eyes on the prize, we urge Efo to keep his eyes on the job, **Woezo Efo**.