Berry Ladies FC owner launches bid for WPL slot on GFA’s ExCo
An astute football administrator and President of Berry Ladies FC, Mrs Gifty Oware-Mensah, has launched her bid to contest for the Women’s Premier League (WPL) Representative slot on the Executive Committee (ExCo) of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) at the association’s upcoming elections.
Launching her manifesto in Accra on Thursday, she said her experience over a decade in women’s football from the grassroots to the elite level would guide her quest to bring transformation.
“I would be the voice for women’s football at the GFA and work tirelessly to increase support and resources for women football,” she assured.
She said when elected, she would inspire women to get to all levels of football with regard to playing, coaching and administration.
“I would advocate the rights of female footballers and ensure they are given a level playing field just as their male counterparts,” she added.
She said her administration would ensure a remarkable future for female football with the right investments set to come into the game.
The manifesto, she said was hinged on six pillars of a women’s football strategy that includes grassroots football, talent identification, marketing and sponsorship, national teams, league development and education.
For grassroots development, she would promote and invest in programmes to encourage more girls and young women to participate in sports while creating accessible facilities and training opportunities in local communities to nurture talents from early age.
She said the talent identification agenda would see a comprehensive programme to support promising female athletes and collaborate with schools and clubs to scout and nurture them.
She vowed to adopt a marketing and sponsorship plan that would increase visibility and media coverage of women’s football to raise awareness and attract sponsors.
For the national teams, she aims to strengthen national teams by providing sufficient resources and training facilities as part of her national teams’ policies.
The launch attracted big wigs in Ghanaian politics and football administration including former General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. John Boadu, former Minister of Information, Florence Oboshie Sai-Coffie, and President of the African Paralympic Committee, Mr Samson Deen.
In a solidarity message, Mr Boadu said he was happy Mrs Oware-Mensah had taken the bold step climb with the men in football administration and was certain she would deliver every promise made to delegates.
“Football is big time business with variety of areas. I believe that when we support the women, they would do a good job and use the opportunity to bring up a lot of female teams to the limelight,” he added.
Mr Samson Deen described the aspirant as an achiever and pledged to be part of her campaign to win the elections.
BY MICHAEL D. ABAYATEYE
