Government has indicated its resolve to "sanitize football administration in the country" by undertaking some reforms in the shortest possible time as a result of the "pervasive rot within the Ghana Football Association (GFA)".
This follows the numerous corruption and bribery cases unearth in the latest exposé by ace investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, together with his investigative firm, Tiger Eye PI and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) which focuses on Ghana's football administration.
New Body To Be Formed
According to a statement signed by the Information Minister Mustapha Hamid and copied to Peacefmonline.com, government said it is "shocked and outraged at the contents of the recently-aired video documentary which captures the investigation conducted into football administration...The documentary exposes the gross mal-functioning of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) characterized by widespread fraud, corruption and bribery".
The government has subsequently referred the conduct of all officials of the GFA together with the suspended Acting Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA) Robert Sarfo Mensah to the Police Service.
The statement further indicated that "having regard to the widespread nature of the apparent rot....Government has decided to take immediate steps to have the GFA dissolved. Government will shortly, thereafter, announce provisional measures to govern football activities in the country, until a new body is duly formed;....
"Government will communicate these decisions to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA), and engage with them on these developments to chart a way forward for Ghana football".
FIFA Ban Imminent?
Meanwhile, some football analysts argue this decision by government is likely to attract the wrath of the international governing body of association football. According to them, FIFA could ban Ghana as its rules oblige member associations to manage their own affairs "independently and with no influence from third parties."
It would be recalled that in 2014, FIFA suspended Nigeria from all international football amid allegations of government interference in its football federation.
FIFA's decision was made after a court order compelled the Nigerian Minister of Sports to appoint a senior member of the civil service to take over the running of the Nigeria Football Federation
In 2017, FIFA suspended the Football Associations of Mali, Sudan and Belize, claiming government interference in those FAs.
Full statement below
Possible Effects Of GFA Dissolution On Football In Ghana
A ban would mean no Ghanaian team, including club side, can play in regional, continental or international competitions.
A football association would not exist meaning that all positions held internationally would be lost. So Nyantakyi’s FIFA Council role will be taken away.
An interim body will have to be set up to run football pending a decision from FIFA on the way forward.
Since FIFA frowns on all governmental interference, the most likely action will be a ban as per FIFA regulations. The most recent example is Sudan where Mutaseen Gaafar Serelkhtim was removed by the Sudanese Police.
When he was reinstated, FIFA lifted the ban.
The local league will most likely to be put on hold awaiting decisions to be taken by an interim management body and FIFA. In addition, clubs who are in international tournaments will be kicked out. Aduana is at risk as it is currently in the CAF Confederation Cup.
National teams will not be allowed to take part in international competitions. Ghana’s Black Maidens and Princesses are preparing to take part in the Women’s U17 and U20 World Cup tournaments this year. The Black Queens will also lose their hosting rights for the of the 2018 Women’s AFCON. The ban will also freeze Ghana’s FIFA ranking.
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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@concerned citizen's comment is one of the most sensible comments I have ever read so far. If you don't agree with this comment then you maybe suffering from dementia.
GHANA WAIT AND GHANA WAIT: Fellow Ghanaians, You are allowing the West to use Anas to destroy your country. What we see on Anas video is not corruption please. Nyantakyie is a great guy. All over the world, one needs to pay extra for things to be done and the reason we have agents. I urge all to WATCH THE FIRST SCENE OF "ENEMY OF STATE' By Will Smith then you will understand. All over the world, one needs to pay extra for things to be done and the reason we have agents. Has anyone ever ask how campaign money for positions is retrieved? Ghanaians, we are a joke. If such extra payments stops today. Has anyone ever ask how campaign money for positions is retrieved? Ghanaians, we are a joke. If such extra payment stops today. THE COUNTRY WILL FREEZE IN A SECOND. MY NAME IS PAA KOW. AND FROM CAPE COAST. Lets wake up and think. By the way, Who will not take money when offered. Buy if those received the money did acted on it IS ANOTHER MATTER ANAS COULD NOT PROVE THAT. WE MUST SURELY WAIT PAA KOW. CAPE COAST
1ddiotts like you need brains. In the name of FIFA Ban the Disgrace and the Rot must go on, correct? FO0OLISH TALK
Mr Prez. you were the target and not Nyantakye.Allow Aduana Stars and the women football to go on.Please we BEG YOU Mr. Prez.We know since E.T Mensah's time the trade mark of HEARTS OF OAK was to BRIBE REFEREES.Please deal with the REFEREES and allow our young girls to enjoy playing their football.LONG LIVE AKUFFO ADDO and LONG LIVE MRS REBECCA AKUFFO.
Who has no sin cast the first stone. Black man is his own enemy. Kwasi Nyantekyi is his own enemy regarding the bragging but he has chocked success more than his predecessors. So, let us not crucify him. How can you dissolve the whole GFA illegally only for FIFA to ban Ghana for life? They have football brains which other do not have. So, reshuffle it gradually so you don't collapse the foundation. Anas must be restricted to the boundaries of Ghana alone because he is tarnishing the image of Ghana outside. His strategy of luring, enticing, trickery, entrapment or presumably 'voodoo' doctoring video must cease. It must be done in a proper way, that's real cases. "Afis3m entis3 3ntomago 3ne y3asi ahata abonten so"
THE PRESIDENT WITH ALL DUE RESPECT SHOULD STEP ASIDE FOR INVESTIGATIONS BECAUSE THEIR NAMES WERE MENTIONED IN THE VIDEO...GHANAIANS ARE DISCERNING AND VERY WISE NOW... THEY CHOOSE NOT TO TALK BUT PUNISH BY WAY OF ELECTION....LOOK AT HOW INTELLIGENTLY THE PRESIDENT AND HIS COHORTS ARE TRYING TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE HE'S NOT PART.. LOOK WE ARE SEEING IT AND THERE'S NO WAY WE WILL BE ***barred word*** THIS TIME AROUND........HOW CAN ***barred word*** MAN OF A NYANTAKYI WILL USE SUCH WORDS TO DESCRIBE THE PRESIDENT.. 5 MILLION AND ALL THAT...WE CAN'T BE ***barred word*** NO MORE .... WE ARE CLOSELY WATCHING...
It's illegal so use another method to reshuffle so you don't collapse the foundation built for years
Is a good step to redeem GFA but the government should go further to make the President Akufo addo and his vice Bawumia to step aside while investigation goes into their involvement in the disgraceful scandals---the 12 million dollars---5 for p-3 for v-2 for m-1-for boy-1-for mugabe
we should actually bann ourselves from FIFA activities for a couple of years
With a 5 million corrupt president and 3 million vice they are doing to limit damage. apuuuu