Stop monetizing information about the Black Stars - SWAG tells GFA

The Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) has cautioned the Ghana Football Association (GFA) against monetizing information about the senior national team, the Black Stars.

According to SWAG, unduly monetizing information that should be freely available hampers the work of journalists and thwarts efforts to rally support for the team.

"While SWAG understands the GFA’s need to use the Black Stars to boost it’s digital communication channels, we are concerned that the practice of routing important information about the national football team exclusively through an app at a fee is unduly monetizing information that should be freely available to journalists and in the process hampering their work," SWAG said in a statement.

"It is our considered opinion that the basics such as squad information, comments of national team technical handlers amongst others should be the last bit of information the GFA looks to monetize. Our worry is that by continuing to limit access to the handlers of the Black Stars, players, the GFA is not only denying journalists the free room to operate, it is denying the Ghanaian public access to their own national team and in the process hurting the efforts of everyone; fans and journalists alike to rally support for the team.

"At SWAG, we respect the need to provide a balance between access to the team and the space to prepare for major internationals in a calm environment but feel the emerging practice where the GFA effectively wants to be the middle and sole player in communication issues around the Black Stars is an unhealthy practice that needs reviewing as soon as possible".