Court Bans GFA

An Accra High Court has granted an interim injunction barring officials of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) from carrying out all official activities.

The 10-day injunction as secured is part of the government’s measures to dissolve the Association.

The order of the court, therefore, restrains the GFA and its officials from carrying out all official duties such as, the organization of football matches, selling of the Association’s assets, appointments, election of officials and other official duties.

Moving the ex-parte application yesterday, the Attorney-General Gloria Akuffo stated that the GFA was being used for illegal activities indicating that the government seeks an injunction which is within the powers of the court.

She said she was seeking the dissolution of a company which was being used for illegal activities and that GFA is a company limited by guarantee but its activities are of public interest.

The A-G argued that GFA’s duties heavily rely on the government especially its finances and logistics stressing that the football body organizes matches in the name of the country.

She said with particular reference to the latest Anas Aremeyaw Anas video that the action of GFA has a direct bearing on the image of the country.

Ms. Akuffo still on the Anas expose noted that the evidence from the video shows that GFA has over the years been used for illegal activities which has become a source of worry to the public.

She contended that the depth of illegalities at GFA has become a sin which has been captured in an investigative piece by Anas.

In the view of the A-G, the video shows act of fraud, deceit and illegalities and as such the GFA cannot legitimately continue to exist stressing that the GFA has lost its objective.

Ms. Akuffo further stated that the AG must take steps to act whether the state will suffer damages or not.

She said the longer the perpetrators are allowed to continue their illegal act, the “deeper we sink.”

Ms Akuffo also told the court the Association and its former president, Kwesi Nyantakyi, used the GFA as an instrument for self-aggrandizement and a means by some officials to make themselves rich.

“The GFA has now become an instrument for self-aggrandizement by people who run it to make themselves rich,” she said.

Justice Samuel Asiedu however in a ruling granted the request of the A-G which has clipped the wings of the GFA.

The AG as the petitioner-applicant wants the court to grant an interim injunction ordering the officials to deist from excessing their powers as conferred on them particularly disposing of assets of GFA.

The applicant also sought an official winding up of the GFA and to appoint the Registrar-General as the liquidator of the body.

By: Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson