Sports Minister Says Gov't Action Against GFA Is Not Interference
By MyJoyOnline
JUN 7, 2018 POLITICS 3 COMMENTS
The government is damning all the consequences of the potential dissolution of the Ghana Football Association will bring to Ghana.
Sports Minister Isaac Asiama told Joy News’ Evans Mensah the government decision to dissolve the FA is an “intervention and not an interference.”
FIFA frowns on government's interference in football and has in the past suspended other countries from all international games owning to government interference.
As a result of government's decision, all football-related activities in Ghana will be suspended, including an international friendly match between the Black Stars of Ghana and Iceland which is expected to begin 20:00 GMT, the Sports Minister hinted.
As it stands the local league which is in its 15th week and has received a 10 million sponsorship sum from Zylofon Cash will also be suspended.
Asiama insists, a league that has about 77 of its referees caught on camera receiving bribes albeit from an investigative team –TigerEye PI cannot be the ones overseeing the rest of the league matches.
The government is also not concerned for now about the potential suspension from international football by FIFA.
He said what the government is concerned about is to take all the necessary steps to ensure our football is reorganized.
Isaac Asiama said the decision is "about getting back the trust and confidence of the people. We are going to get in touch with FIFA. The decision has implications but this is the best for Ghana. Let’s restore the dignity and integrity of Ghana football."
Kwesi Nyantakyi The dissolution comes barely 24 hours after the premiere of the damning documentary in which over 77 referees, National Sports Authority officials, officers of the Sports Ministry, as well as key football association personnel were captured taking bribes.
The documentary was a Tiger Eye PI investigative piece led by ace investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
Referees were given monies ranging from ¢500 to ¢2,000 to alter the outcome of premier league games they officiated.
FA administrators were also paid monies to give opportunities to some players in the Black Stars and other national teams and they fell for the bait.
What is worse, the FA president, Kwesi Nyantekyi was captured in the most damning circumstances after he virtually demanded $11 million from a businessman [who was actually an investigative journalist] to “takeover the whole country.”
In discussing a league sponsorship proposal with the supposed business man, Nyantakyi proposed setting up a new company which will act as an agency for the sponsorship deal and shall receive at least 25% of the sponsorship sum.
The revelations in the documentary have been found to be damning forcing the presidency to take the decision to dissolve the FA.
Meanwhile an affiliate body of the GFA, the Ghana Association League Club Association (GHALCA) is backing government’s decision to dissolve the FA.
Cudjoe Fianoo who represents GHALCE to Joy News Ghana football must be restructured.
He said an emergency congress will be called during which stakeholders will discuss the matter.
I feel ashamed about what has happened,” Cudjoe Fianoo said.
Story by Ghana|Myjoyonline.com|Nathan Gadugah
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