FIFA's Threat To Suspend Ghana From International Football

NEWS COMMENTARY ON FIFA’s THREAT TO BAN GHANA FROM PARTICIPATING IN INTERNATIONAL GAMES

Ghana was this week shown a warning yellow card by FIFA for its attempt to dissolve the Ghana Football Association, GFA.  In a letter to the Government of Ghana, FIFA threatened to suspend the country from the world football governing body, if government does not withdraw the Ghana Football Association liquidation case it has filed in Court. Led by the Attorney General Madam Gloria Akuffo and the Registrar General’s Department, government is in court seeking to liquidate the GFA to pave way for the formation of a new football body to oversee football administration in Ghana. The liquidation process follows the Number 12 expose by Ace Investigative Journalist Anas Aremeyawo Anas and his Tiger PI team which indicted the then GFA President Kwasi Nyantakyi and a number of referees and football officials  were caught on tape engaging in corrupt practices which include match fixing, dubious sponsorship deals, under hand dealings, influence peddling among other unacceptable practices in the game. The expose received lots of condemnations. Ghanaians were outraged and they demanded that something drastic should be done to clean the GFA.  The sentiment of the nation on the expose and the fact that the name of the President of the Republic Nana Akufo-Addo was mentioned in an influence peddling act, pushed government to do what it considered at the time needful, liquidate the football Association. Government directed the security agencies to investigate the case of which Mr. Nyantakyi was invited by the Criminal Investigation Department of the Police Service. Findings of the CID are yet to be known. Government through the Ministry of Youth and Sports also set up a liaison team to dialogue with FIFA. What has been the work of the Liaison team thus far? The big question is, can government liquidate an entity that is to a greater extent financed and governed by FIFA.  Again for how long will the GFA be hiding behind FIFA to stop government from knowing happenings at the GFA since government is the main financer of the national teams. Can domestic laws apply to the workings of the GFA? Yes they can. This is where there is conflict between FIFA rules of non-interference and Ghana’s laws on corruption, registration of entities and accountability. The conflictual nature of the issues calls for dialogue and fashioning out of solutions to the impasse. Yes! FIFA has suspended Mr Nyantakyi as a sign of its commitment to fighting corruption. This means that both Government and FIFA have a converging point. According to the Minister of Information designated Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, FIFA and government only differ on the path to follow in reforming the GFA.  It is in this light that the government delegation to Zurich, the headquarters of FIFA is very important. The meeting should help iron out the issues and find lasting solutions to the challenges confronting Ghana’s football administration.

The unfortunate trend has brought football in the country to a halt. It has affected team owners, administrators, players and supporters in general. What is so surprising is that some sections of Ghanaians who were crying for government to take over the GFA have made a U-turn in calling on the government to allow the so called football people to handle the case upon realising that the reformation will take a long time. This has empowered the football people to go to court to challenge the case without the support of those they are fighting for which is the mother body of the clubs. Some sections of the public are also asking the government to call the bluff of FIFA and go ahead with its plan to dissolve the GFA. To them, the ban will help the nation to have time to correct the various challenges bedeviling Ghana’s football. Others have also wondered what government will do if the GFA is liquidated since observers are yet to see pragmatic Plan of action towards the reformation. It has been revealed that FIFA’s letter of suspension was triggered because the Ministry of Sports failed in providing a roadmap for the reforms to FIFA. It is essential for the nation to tread cautiously to avoid this threat from FIFA else, Ghana will find itself on the list of FIFA’s banned nations. If this happens the Black Stars, Black Queens, Black Maidens, the Black Satellites and other national teams will forfeit the tournaments they have qualified to participate in. Nigeria has tasted FIFA’s ban and another looming for the 20th of this month for government interference. If the ban has not helped Nigeria then Ghana needs to take a second look at the decision to liquidate the GFA. How can investors be attracted to the game if there seems to be no end to the impasse. We need our football back. It is our prayer that something fruitful comes out of the Zurich meeting. For football described as the passion of the nation should not continue to suffer. Soccer fans want to see their favourite clubs back in action. God save Ghana football.

BY: PARKER NARTEY, A SPORTS JOURNALIST.