The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has directed all of its officials caught on camera taking bribes, among other acts of misconduct, to step aside.
It has also banned them with a temporarily from all football-related activities with immediate effect.
[contextly_sidebar id=”Xe4I1yR9OsDmR2hnQTOvB52htk8yc8MM”]This was contained in a statement issued by the Association on Saturday, June 10, 2018, following a meeting by its Executive Committee days after the public viewing of an investigative film by Ghanaian journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas that highlighted deep-seated corruption in Ghana football.
The video featured top officials of the football association including its former president, Kwesi Nyantakyi allegedly taking bribes to influence various aspects of the game, including call-ups to the national team, the duration of playing time for some players and the selection of unfit players and referees to participate in games, among other things.
Kwesi Nyantakyi, was seen allegedly receiving a bribe to illegally secure a $15 million sponsorship deal for Ghana’s local league, acting simultaneously as FA boss and the representative of a ‘ghost’ company that would serve as agent, resulting in him pocketing about 20% of the sponsorship sum, contrary to FIFA and GFA’s regulations.
More than 100 referees were also caught on tape taking bribes to manipulate the outcome of games in a team’s favour.
The government announced on Thursday that it had initiated steps to have the Ghana Football Association dissolved due to widespread nature of the canker in the association but the GFA seems to have started internal processes clean itself.
In the statement signed by its General Secretary, Isaaac Addo, the GFA said having its officials step aside will enable the Ethics Committee of the Association to thoroughly investigate the matter and kickstart a judicial process.
Read the full statement below:
The Executive Committee of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) met on June 8, 2018 and decided as follows:
1. All Officials of the GFA, shown to have allegedly committed various acts of misconduct, in the Tiger Eye PI documentary titled Number 12 shall step aside from their positions and steer away from all football-related activities with immediate effect.
2. The conduct of the said Officials has been referred to the GFA Ethics Committee chaired by COP Kofi Boakye to go through the Judicial Process.
3. The GFA shall not interfere in the works of the Ethics Committee and shall embrace any decision that the Ethics Committee may come out with.
4. That the Referees Committee has been dissolved.
5. That all the competitions of the GFA have temporary been put on hold.
6. That a five member team comprising of Messrs Kweku Eyiah (Leader), Benjamin Nab Eyison, Kurt Okraku (Spokesperson), Isaac Addo and Samuel Opoku Nti has been tasked to meet Government for a resolution of the current impasse as well as draw up a program for lasting reforms.
7. The GFA shall soon come out with a road map for the elections of a substantive President in accordance with its Statutes.
8. That the GFA wishes to assure the general public that it shall take all legitimate steps to restore confidence and trust in the beautiful game. In this respect as a first step, the GFA wishes to offer its sincerest and unconditional apologies to the entire nation and all our stake holders.
SIGNED ISAAC ADDO
GENERAL SECRETARY
Meanwhile, the GFA has suspended all local football games.
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By: Jonas Nyabor/citinewsroom.com/Ghana
