Sports Ministry responds to FIFA’s threat to ban Ghana

The Ministry of Youth and Sports has responded to FIFA’s threat to ban Ghana from all international football related activities if a court case initiated by the Ghana government to liquidate the assets of the GFA is not dropped by August 27.

In a two page Press Release issued and signed by the Sports Minister, Isaac Asiamah, Ghana has asked the world football governing body for further engagements “ to explore a mutually acceptable route to achieving our common goal.”

The Sports Ministry’s responds also highlights the fact that the government of Ghana is not interested in interfering in the running of football, however, it is responsible to ensure that corrupt practices are not condoned.

“The GFA is registered as a company limited by guarantee under the laws of Ghana. The laws of Ghana prohibit the existence of a company which operates for illegal purposes”, a portion of the statement said.

Why has FIFA threatened Ghana with a ban ?

According to FIFA, a Ghana high court petition, brought by the attorney general to have the football association liquidated, must be withdrawn by the 27 August or a ban will be imposed.

The case came in the wake of widespread corruption allegations.

Football's world governing body says this "constitutes an undue influence in the affairs of the GFA in contravention of Fifa statutes."

The letter signed by Fifa secretary general Fatma Samoura added that "if the petition to start the liquidation process of the GFA is not withdrawn by Monday 27 August 2018 at 1100GMT the GFA will be suspended with immediate effect."

The petition came in the wake of a film by controversial Ghanaian journalist Anas Aremayaw Anas that showed African match officials and former GFA president Kwesi Nyantakyi accepting cash gifts.

A global ban would put Ghana's 2019 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Kenya on 8 September in doubt, Nigeria are due to travel to face Seychelles the same weekend.

Since the release of the film the Confederation of African Football has issued bans to many of the match officials shown on camera.

Nyantakyi resigned from his posts as GFA president and from the posts he held with Fifa and the Confederation of African Football (Caf). He denies any wrongdoing.

Fifa, suspended Nyantakyi for 90 days on 8 June but he has now left his role on the Fifa Council.