The Federation of International Football Associations, (FIFA) has warned the government of Ghana to immediately reverse the action at the High Court seeking to dissolve the Ghana Football Association by Monday August 27, or face an immediate ban.
A letter signed by General Secretary of FIFA, Fatma Samoura stated that the action by the government constitutes an undue influence in the affairs of the GFA in contravention of art. 14 par. 1 i) and art. 19 par. 1 of the FIFA Statutes.
The letter added that “under these circumstances, the Bureau based on art. 16 par. 1 of the FIFA Statutes decided on 11 August 2018 that if the petition to Start the liquidation process of the GFA is not withdrawn by Monday, 27 August 2018 at 12hOO (CET), the GFA will be suspended with immediate effect.
“The suspension would be lifted only once the above-mentioned petition is withdrawn and FIFA is given written proof thereof.”
FIFA added that “if the GFA were to be suspended, it may not exercise any of its membership rights (Cf. art. 13 of the FIFA Statutes) Furthermore, other member associations could not entertain Sporting contact with the GFA.”
The process by the government to dissolve the GFA commenced after an investigative piece by ace Journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas exposed some corrupt activities at the FA. The investigative piece captured some FA officials including GFA president, Kwesi Nyantakyi and several referees taking bribes to influence matches.
Below is the full statement by FIFA
Liaison Team for the Ghana Football Association Dr Kofi Amoah Head of the Liaison Team
Email: pvigroupinc@gmaii.com
Zurich, 13 August 2018 SG/nak/vem/Ini
Decision of the Bureau of the Council on the situation of the Ghana Football Association
Dear Mr Amoah,
We are writing to inform you that the situation of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has been brought to the attention of the Bureau of the Council (hereinafter the Bureau).
The Bureau was informed about the following developments: On 7 June 2018, a BBC documentary entitled “Number 12 — When Greed and Corruption Become the Norm” was aired alleging match-fixing and fraudulent activity involving referees and officials of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), including GFA President, CAF Vice President and FIFA Council member Kwesi Nyantakyi.
On 8 June 2018, Mr Nyantakyi was provisionally banned from taking part in any football-related activity at both national and international level by the chairperson of the adjudicatory chamber of the Ethics Committee for a duration of 90 days.
Formal investigation proceedings are being carried out by the chairperson of the investigatory chamber of the Ethics Committee. Furthermore, the Bureau was notified that FIFA had been given to understand that on 12 June 2018, the High Court in Accra placed an interim injunction on the activities of the GFA following an application by the Attorney General of Ghana.
The Bureau was further briefed on the visit of a FIFA delegation to Ghana on 21-22 June 2018 which met, among others, representatives of the government of Ghana, including the Minister of Youth and Sport.
The Bureau was also informed that further consultations between a delegation involving the Minister of Youth and Sport and FIFA administration representatives were held in Zurich on 29 June 2018.
On this occasion, with the primary objective of ensuring the continuous running of football in Ghana, it was agreed that a two-person team would be appointed to temporarily act as a liaison with FIFA and CAF with regard to international competitions issues (e.g. the participation of the Ghanaian team in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup France 2018), until such time as FIFA took a decision on the situation of the GFA.
The Bureau was also informed that on 12 July 2018, the High Court of Justice (Commercial Division) in Accra had ordered that the members, directors and officers of the GFA be restrained from exercising their powers, “particularly relating to the disposal of the assets of the GFA, organisation of football matches and appointment of executives and other officials”.
Furthermore, the High Court appointed the Registrar of Companies “to exercise the powers of a liquidator in relation to the Respondent [i.e. the GFA) pending the final determination of the petition”.
To date, the scope of the investigations into the allegations of widespread match-fixing and corruption within the GFA remains unclear.
However, the Bureau considers that the petition introduced by the Attorney General to the High Court of Justice to start the liquidation process of the GFA constitutes an undue influence in the affairs of the GFA in contravention of art. 14 par. 1 i) and art. 19 par. 1 of the FIFA Statutes.
Under these circumstances, the Bureau based on art. 16 par. 1 of the FIFA Statutes decided on 11 August 2018 that if the petition to Start the liquidation process of the GFA is not withdrawn by Monday, 27 August 2018 at 12hOO (CET), the GFA will be suspended with immediate effect. The suspension would be Iifted only once the above-mentioned petition is withdrawn and FIFA is given written proof thereof.
In accordance with art‘ 16 per, 3 of the FIFA Statutes, if the GFA were to be suspended, it may not exercise any of its membership rights (Cf. art. 13 of the FIFA Statutes)‘ Furthermore, other member associations could not entertain Sporting contact with the GFA.
We thank you for taking note of the above.
Yours faithfully,
FEDERATION INTERNATIONALE
Source: Ghana/Starrfmonline.com/103.5FM
