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An Accra High Court today, July 25th 2013 fined the Ghana Football Association (GFA) an amount GHC 30,000 and nullified Alhaji Abdul Ganiyu Lawal's chairmanship as the Eastern Regional Football Association Chairman. Mr. A. A. Lawal was elected Chairman of the Eastern Region Football Association by delegates following an election. Lawal pulled 147 of the votes to beat contender Nana Kwadwo Budu, who had 17 during the regional elections in Koforidua supervised by Ghana's Electoral Commission. He thus serves on the Executive Committee of the Ghana Football Association. Out of 172 delegates present, 164 voted whilst 8 abstained. The position had been left vacant since the term of the previous chairman ended. Nana Budu had filed a petition in the High Court against the elected Chairman, A. A. Lawal and the GFA for many unhealthy reasons. The GFA according sources was gravely concerned that the legal stand-off between Mr. A. A. Lawal and Nana Budu is affecting the development of the game in the Eastern Region yet conducted an election to elect the incumbent Chairman. Reading the verdict after some months of evidence battling in court, Judge Erasmus Ginae ruled that Nana Kwadwo Budu should be sworn-in as the new Chairman of the Eastern Regional Football Association (ERFA), given an ultimatum by 7th of August 2013. The High Court ruling stated that the Ghana Football Association knowing the legal battle between the duo but yet conducted the election, should pay thirty thousand Ghana Cedis (GHC 30,000) for noncompliance. Meanwhile, the business of football in the Eastern Region is at a standstill because of the protracted legal stand-off.