GHALCA meets GPL clubs on Tema Youth, Dreams FC case

The Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) has held a general meeting with all the 16 Premier League clubs to discuss the possible effect of the ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on a case involving Dreams FC and Tema Youth, which, if not properly handled, can hinder the progress of the ongoing Ghana Premier League.

Tema Youth earlier this year took a case to CAS contesting the status of Dreams FC in the country's top-flight league, claiming they fielded an ineligible player during their game to qualify to the top flight league.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) had earlier ruled in favour of Dreams FC but Tema Youth, unhappy with the decision, took the matter to CAS.

But CAS has ruled that a new Appeals Committee panel be set up by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to hear the case of the Tema-based club against Dreams FC. Tema Youth are seeking to have Dreams FC relegated to the second-tier league. This could affect the ongoing league if Tema Youth win the case against Dreams FC, prompting the meeting between all the Premier League clubs and GHALCA in Accra on Thursday July 28.

The GFA has taken a decision to refer the matter to a legal committee for adjudication.

Speaking to Class Sports after the meeting, the Chief Executive Officer of Wa All Stars, Oduro Nyarko, said justice would prevail after the judicial committee sits on the matter.

“We just want to go along with the Ghana Football Association’s decision to refer the matter to the legal committee. All of us will be waiting for what the legal committee will tell us. We are expecting that the best decision will be reached and justice will prevail. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has directed that a new judicial committee should be formed so that will be done and we will wait for the verdict,” he stated.

General Manager of Division One side Asokwa Deportivo, Otuo Acheampong Barima, popularly known as Sometimer, said the legal committee handling the matter had promised to act swiftly and rule on the case.

“What happened was that we invited all the 16 Premier League clubs and we discussed the ruling by CAS which has some effect on the league. We wanted to find out their positions which they made very clear. The vice-president of the FA was here, we had a briefing that they had referred the matter to the legal committee, who will take a decision soon, which will be communicated to the FA and they will let us know later. The GFA does not have any authority to sit on the issue. That is why the legal authority is in charge. We have told them that we have just eight matches to go and we don’t want a situation where we will finish the league and this issue might delay the start of next season, so, they have assured us of handling the issue as soon as possible,” he stated.