Nana Yaw Kesseh, one of the organisers of the ‘Save Ghana Football’ protest, has strongly responded to what he perceives as an attempt by Nana Oduro Sarfo, an Executive Council member of the Ghana Football Association, to undermine the significance of the protest held on Wednesday, February 14, 2024.
Allegedly, Oduro Sarfo claimed that the demonstration failed to meet his expectations due to a low turnout. He reportedly tried to incite anger among the protestors by unexpectedly appearing at the gathering point of the march, the Black Stars Square.
In his rebuttal on Kessben FM, Nana Yaw Kesseh criticised Oduro Sarfo for trying to deflect attention from the key issues raised by the protestors. He dismissed the notion of a low turnout, revealing that the protest saw over 3000 participants.
Furthermore, Nana Yaw Sarfo disclosed that the protest leaders had the opportunity to meet with parliamentary leaders following the submission of their petition.
“Does he know what a poorly organised demonstration is? This demonstration attracted over 3000 people. We went from Circle to the Black Stars Square and there was not a single report of someone misconducting himself.
“Demonstrations are not even about the crowd but if that is his worry, then we are telling him that we had the crowd. We are talking about the lives of the people of Ghana. It is a serious matter and we must treat it accordingly. No one pelted anyone with stones or sachet water, “ he said.
The protest garnered significant support from Ghanaian football fans, with thousands turning out to advocate for substantial reforms and a complete overhaul of the Ghanaian football structure.
Protesters are urging swift intervention from authorities, citing concerns that numerous Ghanaian football talents are being squandered due to inadequate management and perceived corruption within the system.
Following their march, which began at the Obra Spot, demonstration leaders formally submitted a petition to key entities, including the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Parliament, and the Ghana Football Association.