A friendly letter to the Minister of Youth and Sports – Hon. Nii Lante Vanderpuye

Dear Mr. Minister,

I have been following your exploits in the Sports Ministry with keen interest of late and I think I must be honest to tell you this.

Despite the numerous media-driven decisions and actions you have been displaying, you have done something worthy of commendation.

My only prayer is that you change your ways and stay in the HOT SEAT for long.

Continuity is something we have lacked since 2000 with regards to the way Ministers are changed in this particular area.

And since that time in question, we have changed almost 19 ministers in the Ministry. How do we go forward if there is no continuity and a policy document for that matter?

I am not a praise singer for someone to assume that I am only raining praises on you for a favour.

Even if I am, the Prophet of Islam Mohammed (SAW) said, "Man laa yashkurannasa laa yashkurallah" (He who fails to appreciate the efforts of man, fails to appreciate the kindness of Allah). So even if I do that, I might not be wrong on the face of Islam.

But I will be the first to point it out to you if you do what I think is not right.

Many have tagged me as an anti-Nii Lante but that will not stop me from what I think is right or wrong. Whichever way it goes, I will say it.

If I laud you for responding to winning bonus issues promptly, then I must also be able to tell you it’s wrong to compel the FA Boss to buy a ticket to watch a national team play.

Now on the substantive issue. After your nomination and subsequent confirmation as the Minister of Youth and Sports, I wrote an article on GHANAsoccernet.com, addressing my own grievances with emphasis on the way and manner you swiftly took to the media, issuing threats and warnings here and there.

The article was entitled ‘New Sports Minister Nii Lante Must not fail; Mahama Ayariga’s experience is a testimony’. In the said article, I chronicled the comments you had made in the media and how detrimental I felt they could be to you in your pursuit of excellence at the dreaded Sports Ministry. But am told you were not happy.

I also reminded you of the comments of Joe Lartey Snr. and Hon. B.T. Baba as to how careful you should be with the portfolio to avoid failure.

Whether you took them with an open mind or otherwise, I think I had to draw your attention in order not to fall in the pit your predecessors fell in.

Mr. Minister, I have not fallen in love with you but I like something you have done and for the fact that you seem to be interested in almost all the sporting disciplines, not only football, and that is what is gradually luring my love for you.

However, the major reason for my sudden admiration for you is your reaction towards our female senior national team, The Black Queens.

After their game with Tunisia last Tuesday, you gave each of them $6000 as part payment of the monies the Ministry owes them.

I remember you once told me that you will work harder to ensure that there are no outstanding bonuses as there used to be.

I am also told you have paid the bonus of the Black Stars as well. That is good and I laud you for that if indeed you have paid. But if you haven’t, it’s still not late. Kindly do it fast.

I am also aware of the numerous meetings you have been holding with the leadership of the various federations to ensure they are well equipped and grounded to make Ghana proud in international competitions.

But the painful truth is that, despite all the efforts you are putting in to lift the industry, if you continue with the administrative hiccups, they will take away the shine from what you are doing.

I know as human as you are, you will make some mistakes in your execution of duty. But your ability to minimize those mistakes indicates the kind of leader you are. My Suggestion Mr. Minister, I will, hence suggest that you adopt the following to aid your day-t-day- running of the Ministry.

1. Limit your media talks.
2. Let the communications department of the Ministry do the talking.
3. Strengthen your interactions with the federations to avoid what happened during the Ghana/Mozambique clash over ticketing.
4. Don’t ever assume, investigate before you act.

This is a message from your younger brother, a sports journalist and a patriot.

Sports is huge and as I always say BEING THE MINISTER OF SPORTS IS LIKE BEING THE PRESIDENT OF A COUNTRY.

Sports is just like a NATION.

Hoping to hearing from you soonest. (Sarcastic, isn't it?)

Yours sincerely, Sheikh Tophic Sienu, Sports Journalist.