A Whale On The Beach

March 16, 2015

ayariga

When you stink, you don’t fart. That is a lesson well known to the humble in spirit. So, they learn from the wise and become wise.

Yet, the proud and the arrogant know no such wisdom. Some of them may be accomplished, yet not polished.

So, they trade in knowledge for ignorance, grace for rage, compassion for combustion and humility for humiliation. No wonder Mahama Ayariga is no longer the Sports Minister.

In comes the new sports minister, Dr. Mustapha Ahmed, a dentist with a military background, with no known expertise in sports administration. His lack of expertise is inherently wrong, a competence red flag, a source of concern I share with a number of right-thinking parties.

I know that without a solid foundation, nothing can be built to last. Therefore, without that foundation in sports management, I wonder what credentials qualify Dr Ahmed, though he is accomplished in the medical field.

Would any of David Kotei, Azumah Nelson, Abedi Pele, Anthony Yeboah and Stephen Appiah, for all their world class glorious exploits in sports, qualify as the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning? Not a chance!

Why, then, would anyone without the clout and expertise of a thorough knowledge of sports management, be assigned the high office of the Sports Ministry?

Is it because it is considered a playground for clowns, and that any Kofi and Ama could occupy that position for entertainment purposes? It is difficult to assign logic to it. That should be food for thought for the appointing authority.

Unfortunately, too, that is the evidence of insanity, given that the same criteria applied in the previous appointment is being applied in this instance. Is it mere semblance or accident?

Is it an accident that, like Ayariga, Dr. Ahmed has no thorough expertise in sports administration and management? Is it an accident that like Ayariga, Dr. Ahmed also hails from Bawku?

Indeed, having no previous expertise in the field and hailing from Bawku do not constitute a crime.
A person’s origin or provenance should, in no way, constitute a disqualification for any right, benefit, responsibility or appointment.

However, since that was the case in the disgraced ex Sports Minister’s appointment, it is too striking for comfort, mind-boggling, almost spiteful, testing the limits of logic.

In which right-thinking jurisdiction would anyone be hired for a position, for which he does not possess the requisite qualification(s) and experience?

That, definitely, makes Dr. Ahmed a whale on the beach. He does not belong. A whale belongs to the sea, not the beach. So, would a whale survive on the beach?

While the proximity to Ayariga – given expertise and provenance issues – is inherently wrong, Dr. Ahmed might be a different kind of whale with unique abilities equipped not only to survive, but also thrive on the beach. Does he, therefore, get the benefit of doubt? Hardly.

However, a whale can thrive at the beach in a pool, without harm, and with a lot of fun, serving children riding on its back, to the thrill of parents, the community and the society, at large.

I hope this supposedly unique whale would thrive – his success is my only interest – on the beach, to elevate Ghana Sports to a grand pedestal, to great applause for the country, the minister and the appointing authority.

The issues that bedevil the sports ministry are many, yet, if he would embrace grace, right priorities and integrity as his lifestyle, he could not be limited by even the sky.

I hope the discipline and the care of a jeweler he has acquired in both fields would bear in his dealings with people, regardless of gender, of all rungs and profession, especially the media that may ask a few ‘stupid’ questions of accountability, here and there.

Also, it would be prudent for him to recognize the contributions of great men and women who have raised the nation’s sports profile, honour the opinions, viewpoints and needs of all the associations, in the disbursement of the national kitty, to create balance, harmony and glory for the nation.

Putting a freeze on the disbursement of the 30 Jeep Grand Cherokees donated by a consortium of partners for the players and officials of the senior national men’s football team, the Black Stars, a bonus for losing the 2015 AFCON title, would be a good start for the new minister.

Distributing the proceeds of the vehicles evenly among the other associations, especially boxing, Track & Field, Tae Kwon Do, Judo, chess, tennis, table tennis and volleyball, would put the rookie minister in good stead to generate the kind of motivation and goodwill that would in turn generate great success for the nation.

I hope Dr Ahmed would not be ambushed by naivete to misplace his trust in a few dishonest and incompetent officials in Ghana football, whose appetite for the underhand drives them to spite accountability.

Consumed by greed, some shady football officials violate the trust of Ghanaians, crossing moral and ethical boundaries for private gain at the expense of the public good. So, Dr. New Sports Minister, do not fall for their superficial appearances, even if they display angelic dispositions.

Also, I hope you would embrace due diligence and counsel – in the form of suggestions and criticisms – as your circle of wisdom in your decision-making process, lest you be afflicted with an arrogant spirit that could only lead to self-destruction.

Welcome to the minefield that has upended many bankrupt, yet arrogant predecessors.

Though the task is daunting, if you do not close your eyes to compromise, if you meet the needs of the athletes, if you scrutinize every move by the FA, your stock will keep appreciating, and if you stay humble, you will succeed.

Welcome to the beach, Mr. Whale. I wish you humility on the job, and with it, success, lasting riches and long life.


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