President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), on Friday, June 24, 2020 met the leadership of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), at the City Hall in Accra, to discuss issues of mutual benefits in the Accra Metropolis.
At the meeting, the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) of Accra, Mohammed Adjei Sowah, welcomed a proposal from the GFA to support the city’s beautification drive.
This is in line with the Mayor’s clarion call on corporate bodies and individuals to adopt, green and beautify open spaces in the city for the project dubbed #AccraforArt initiative which was launched in 2019.
The idea, which seeks to erect monuments and decorate public walls with colourful murals of football heroes both past and present, was proposed by the GFA.
The Accra for Art project is an initiative to beautify the city to curb the indiscriminate posting of bills on public walls and to promote tourism.
Mayor Adjei Sowah noted that the assembly was working with a team of graffiti experts to get this done.
He also intimated that sports was a golden opportunity to turn around the economies of local communities and urged the GFA to take advantage of the introduction of AstroTurf in communities to bring back the vibrancy and excitement associated with local football since the proximity of sporting facilities in communities goes a long way to encourage and unearth talents.
“The introduction of AstroTurf in our communities has helped us to, first of all, capture the open space people had encroached upon. It has provided a modern field for playing football and I think the GFA must capitalize on this golden opportunity to bring back the vibrancy and excitement of local football. This is because the proximity of sporting facilities in communities goes a long way to encourage and unearth talents,” he said.
GFA President, Kurt E.S. Okraku on his part, said the AMA could use the Association’s Premier League platform among others to position its brand as well as embark on educational campaigns to help advance its cause.
“From day one, we have been looking for ways to build very good relationships with state and private institutions because football cannot be managed in isolation. Football, as we all know, is the passion of the nation and it permeates through every facet of our life.
“The football platform is huge and AMA can harness the potential on the football platform. AMA also has a huge platform where the football industry can also harness its potential and we think that we can do something together.
“From your side, we believe you do engage the community a lot and you can use the football platform to do so. We use TV a lot and if you are embarking on educational campaigns you can use the football platform. We are strong on social media as well. It is a win-win partnership we are looking for. You can use our Premier League platform in your brand positioning,” he added.
The Accra Metropolitan Assembly had in attendance, Hon Adjei Sowah, Metropolitan Chief Executive, Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Hon Adjei Tawiah, Municipal Chief Executive, Korley Klottey Municipal Assembly, Ben Armah, Metro Coordinating Director, Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Jennifer Brock, Head of International Relations and Special Projects, AMA and Gilbert Ankrah, PRO of AMA.
