Michael Oti Adjei BBC Sport, Accra

Ben Koufie says that Ghana's new coach will be Mariano Barreto

Portugal's Mariano Barreto is set to become Ghana's new coach after reaching an agreement with the Ghana Football Association (GFA).

The GFA chairman, Ben Koufie, told BBC Sport that they have already signed a memorandum of understanding with Barreto, and expect him to sign a contract with Ghana next week.

Koufie said that the 46-year-old Barreto will be offered a contract until 31 August 2006, although the the GFA once again included a 3-month probation clause in the contract.

Similar clauses have been blamed for Ghana's high turnover of coaches in the last two years, but Koufie defended the decision.

"In every job you serve a probation period and it is the same with coaching Ghana," Koufie said.

"It will allow all of us a period of assessment that will determine whether we can go on with a long term relationship or not."

Barreto himself is thrilled by the prospect of coaching Ghana because he "loves new challenges" and says he could "take Ghana to the next level."

Barreto is currently assistant manager at Russian champions Locomotiv Moscow, and he has previously worked at Sporting Lisbon in Portugal as well as German side Borussia Dortmund under renowned coach Ottmar Hitzfield.

According to Koufie, Barreto will start work almost immediately and could take charge of Ghana's under-23 team for an Olympic qualifier against Algeria in Accra on 20 February.

Barreto is set to take over from Germany's Ralf Zumdick who left in December, and the Portuguese coach is set to become Ghana's fourth foreign manager in barely two years.