Executive Council Member of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Nana Oduro Sarfo, says that appointing Chris Hughton as the head coach of the Black Stars in 2022 would have set a bad precedent.
He cited speculations that the former Brighton and Hove Albion boss was being imposed on the GFA by the government.
There were rumours that Hughton was brought to Ghana by a member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Gabby Otchere Darko, to take charge of the Black Stars.
Speaking about why the former Ireland international was not hired last year, Oduro Sarfo said that they did not want it to be an example in the future.
“I think I spoke to you sometime ago when there was some brouhaha about his arrival into the country,” he told Joy Sports.
“Some were saying Gabby, governmental something, something. We didn’t want to set a precedent whereby we would allow any government to give us a coach. Because when you set that precedent, it’s going to haunt you in the future.”
The GFA subsequently appointed Otto Addo to lead the Black Stars in the 2022 World Cup playoffs and the tournament itself in November/December.
“We had made our plans to go for Otto Addo, then they brought him. We didn’t want any imposition. No. It would not have been the best. Because we wanted somebody who knew the team,” he added.
Chris Hughton has now replaced Otto Addo, who departed after the World Cup, and will be unveiled on Monday in Kumasi.