NPP Manifesto: Nsoatreman Distance Itself From GM’s Statement
Nsoatreman Football Club have distanced themselves from a recent statement by their General Manager, Mr. Eric Alagidede, in connection with a proposal to steer sports in the 2024 Manifesto of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) launched over the weekend.
According to the club, the comment- which relates to Mr Alagidede’s call for a review and prioritization of key policies and measures to cushion local clubs and boost the Ghana Premier League to attract public interest- does not reflect their view and position.
In a statement, the Nsoatre-based club emphasized that it club does not “subscribe to the opinion” of the GM.
“That the said interview was granted by Mr. Eric Alagidede in his personal capacity as an industry person and not on behalf of the club as the general manager… Nsoatreman Football Club is a law-abiding corporate entity and therefore compliant with all necessary statutory obligations including the payment of taxes for the development of the country.”
Additionally, it noted that any form of support from the government will be welcomed.
“That the club fully supports any intervention by the government to alleviate the challenges faced by football clubs in the country including Dr. Bawumia’s promise to help each league club acquire a suitable bus for its operations.”
In the meantime, it said the Board of Directors of the Club will engage the general manager for the purposes of contextual clarity of his statement.
Background
As part of measures to support premier league clubs when retained in power, the NPP’s Manifesto outlined what it calls comprehensive and sustainable sports development policies.
Launching the manifesto on August 18 in the Western Region, the Presidential candidate of the NPP, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia promised to provide a bus each to Premier League Clubs to ease the transportation burdens.
In reaction to this particular promise during an interview which has attracted national attention, Mr Alagidede indicated that clubs have more pressing needs that need the attention of governments than the provision of buses.
He argued that each club has a bus, making that promise insignificant.
“I don’t think there is a Premier League club without a bus. These are not the immediate needs of clubs in Ghana if you ask me. We have consistently, government after government, asked for a tax rebate for the clearing of sports goods.
“I went to pick up [Nsoatreman jerseys] at the airport and was asked to pay nine thousand cedis in taxes. These are things we expect people who are with the Vice President and have knowledge about sports to be advising him and others who seek to take over power,” he is quoted as saying by JoyNews.
