World’s football governing body FIFA is contemplating banning Ghana from international competitions if government should continue with its intended steps to dissolve the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
In a letter dated 13th August, 2018 and addressed to chairman of the liaison team and signed by secretary general, Fatma Samoura, the Bureau of the FIFA council stated its disappointment at the ongoing legal tussle between government and the GFA. FIFA has thus asked that the case be withdrawn from court which means plans to dissolve the GFA should be discarded or Ghana will be banned by 27th August, 2018.
This means, government has about 14days to act on this warning or risk a FIFA ban.
The release referred to the Anas #Number12 documentary as the focal point of the current action which it stated led to the suspension of former GFA president Kwesi Nyantakyi for 90days provisionally.
The release maintained that in fighting corruption it is also wrong for government to side-step the roles of the GFA with other member associations as the current developments have caused.
The release mentioned every procedure that has been followed since the video was aired up till now but finds it hard to believe why government wants to dissolve the GFA.
Portions of the statement said, “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 interference in the affairs of the GFA in contravention of art. 14 par. 1 i) and art. 19 par. 1 of the FIFA Statutes. ”
It therefore goes further to conclude 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of the FIFA Statutes decided on 11 August 2018 that if the petition to start the liquidation process of the GFA is not withdrawn by Monday, 27 August 2018 at 12hOO (CET), the GFA will be suspended with immediate effect. The suspension would be lifted only once the above-mentioned petition is withdrawn and FIFA is given written proof thereof.”
If government fails to heed this warning from FIFA and Ghana is banned, the national under 17 female team, the Black Maidens will not participate in the upcoming FIFA Under 17 female World Cup in Uruguay later this year. The national under 20 male team, the Black Satellites will not be able to participate in the African Youth Championships later this year. The Black Stars will not play the upcoming African Cup of Nations Qualifier next month. Ghana will not host nor participate in the African Women Championships tournament later this year, even as reports indicate the hosting rights has been taken away. Aduana Stars will not be able to continue with their CAF Confederations Cup group stages matches again.
