Ghana Football Association dissolved

Government yesterday dissolved the Ghana Football Association (GFA) in a bid to sanitise football administration in the country.

A statement signed by Information Minister, Dr Mustapha Hamid, said “government is shocked and outraged at the contents of the recently aired video documentary, which captures the investigation conducted into football administration by the investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, titled ‘Number 12: When Misconduct and Greed become the Norm’.

“The documentary exposes gross malfunctioning of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) characterized by widespread fraud, corruption and bribery.

“As a result of the pervasive nature of rot within the GFA, government has, therefore, decided to investigate the conduct of all officials of the GFA, together with that of the suspended acting Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Robert Sarfo Mensah, shown in the documentary to be involved in questionable, potentially criminal acts, is, forthwith, referred to the Police for further investigation and appropriate action,” it stated.

“The Police are to take all such relevant measures as are necessary to ensure that the contents of the documentary are rapidly and thoroughly investigated; having regard to the widespread nature of the apparent rot involving top GFA officials, top NSA officials, match commissioners, football administrators and referees, government has decided to take immediate steps to have the GFA dissolved.”

“Government would shortly, thereafter, announce provisional measures to govern football in the country until a new body is duly formed.

“Government would also communicate these decisions to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA), and engage with them on these developments to chart a way forward for Ghana football.”

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

World football governing body FIFA is likely to ban the country but government has damned the consequences in the larger interest of Ghanaians and football fans.

Many people, who have been calling for the dissolution of the GFA in view of many corruption allegations, heaved a sigh of relief when they got the news.

A cross-section of Ghanaians said the move would present an opportunity to restructure the game loved passionately in the country.