Gov’t Dissolves GFA Over Anas Video

The government of Ghana yesterday announced the dissolution of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and interdiction of a number of football administrators.

The decision to crack the whip comes 24 hours after the public screening of a chilling documentary at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) that brought into disrepute the reputation of the Association.

The footage, exclusive to BBC Africa Eye, showed how about 77 GFA/FIFA referees, together with some senior football administrators, took cash to determine the outcomes of both domestic and international matches.

Confirming the rather anticipated move by government, the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Isaac Kwame Asiamah, said looking at some of the scenes in the video, government had come to the conclusion that the GFA, as it is stood, was not fit for purpose.

Speaking on Accra-based Peace FM, Mr Asiamah stressed that “government is determined to restore dignity to football in Ghana,” adding that other officials implicated in the video would be dealt with according to due process of law.”

Those who have been interdicted include the suspended Acting Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Robert Sarfo Mensah; NSA’s Public Relations Officer, Madam Frederica Mensah Davies and Patrick Agordzor, Protocol Officer, NSA. The Ashanti Regional Sports Director, Mr. Joshua Mensah has also been interdicted.

According to the minister, other GFA officials, referees and match commissioners caught in the scandal have all been referred to the police for further investigations.

“Over the years there have been allegations of corruption at GFA, but this video has provided the opportunity for us to dissolve the football governing body. We will get in touch with CAF and FIFA tomorrow to brief them on our decision”.

In the wake of the dissolution of the GFA, Mr Asiamah says all programmes and structures under the FA are duly dissolved.

“Even the league is suspended until further notice,” he said.

Meanwhile, in a statement signed by Information Minister, Mustapha Hamid, government said it is “shocked and outraged” by the contents of the exposé.

“Government will see to it that the necessary reforms are urgently undertaken to sanitise football administration in the country,” the statement added.

The Anas documentary exposed the gross breakdown of the GFA, which was characterised by widespread fraud, corruption and bribery.

Though the sports minister is emphatic of the dissolution, Government’s spokesperson on Government and Legal Issues, Herbert Krampah, says government had only instituted the procedures to ensure that the GFA was dissolved according to law.

“We know the GFA is a company limited by guarantee and therefore the government would take necessary steps acting according to the law to ensure that the Registrar’s General removes the GFA from the list of companies.

“We have to follow the legal processes to ensure that the appropriate thing is done and therefore we are in the process of having the FA dissolved by law,” he explained.

By: Grace Ablewor Sogbey/ [email protected]