What Dont We Get? Julius RK Sowu commented that Herbert Amponsah Mensah could easily have been speaking about almost any Ghanaian organisation and not just about Rugby. Hes absolutely right. I transcribed parts of his speech and took out the direct sports references. This is what I came up with: I think that the fundamental problems are a lack of facilities, lack of infrastructure, lack of commitment. It’s been in existence for 11 years, sadly very little has been achieved during that period. Mainly because of funding and the people involved. Every association has mentioned that money has been promised…and no money has been received...the GHC100,000 that has been promised every year has never been paid… We found that we had to shake the system, embarrass the people in public office to bring about change… If the Ministry of Finance has promised us a GHC100,000 a year, I want to know where that money is. #Whoisresponsible for it? Yes, we have a problem with the ministry, who frankly are not serious and do not understand. I think the problem is because they come into office - and I don’t know how many ministers have been around over the years - and they are incompetent. They are not familiar with the terrain that may enable them to enact the duties for which they have been appointed. I ask the ministers, do you have a #businessplan and a #vision? For me, that is common sense. If the custodian of the seat understands that he needs $120million and he can only get $25million from the Ministry of Finance because the country has a problem, he must now work out a business plan that can make it work. He must also understand that infrastructure can serve multiple purposes… We also need to exploit the #potentialofsynergies. If we were more focused, we could start talking of cross-marketing… If they did come up with a vision and a plan, people would buy into it. People need to understand what you’re trying to achieve and see a model is achievable...We used to #publish our #financialaccounts in the #newspapers so that people could see where the money was going and could also see where the shortfalls were. You first say, “#IamproudtobeGhanaian”, “I am proud to be Black” and I am proud to be African”. Therefore, don’t pitch your bar lower than the global standard... Because the people in higher office continue to set the bar low, everybody accepts a low bar. And I believe you need to #setahighbar. Think about capital…You go into the areas of basic marketing knowing that there is a shortfall, and you ask yourself, What kind of image do we represent?; Are represented by high levels of #credibility and #accountability?; Is there fighting?; Is there a semblance of malfeasance? The international corporate world will only put their money in places that are not dirty or riddled with scandal. Potential international corporate sponsors ask, Are you supported by the government? They are aware that there is a lack of seriousness in terms of general public servitude. They realise that Ghana as a nation is not serious in any way. And as we know with our European friends, they talk among themselves, so they are all aware of our failings. Weve become a #partyjoke to them. His #tips on courting #corporatemoney: 1. The media is a double edged sword, you need to have a marriage with them rather than look at them as foe. 2. Consider how you are perceived. Money itself does not discriminate, but #money also #hasverylittletime, so if you want to get somebody’s attention, you have to show how you are different. 3. There must be a level of perceived transparency to whatever it is that you are doing. 4. You must have good quality management and leadership that has social capital, that will be respected internationally. 5. How you look is fundamental - craft an effective image. There must be perceived unity, take away the fighting, take away the fact that you don’t get along with the boss. 6. Corporate money wants to know that you have a local audience, that you have #localendorsement. (I paraphrased a little for coherence) #GHstoriesthatmatter #Sportsanalogy
Posted on: Sun, 12 Oct 2014 13:07:57 +0000
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