FIFA Kicks Out Gov’t From Public Interest Committee

Story (Nii Ayi Tetteh (niiayitetteh@yahoo.com)

World Football Governing Body FIFA says the invitation extended to government by the Ghana Football Association to nominate two people for the formation of a five member public interest committee violates FIFA rules

For this reason, the Ghana football association has no option but to withdraw the said invitation letter to avoid FIFA banning the country from participating in all FIFA organized competitions.

An email from FIFA to this reporter confirms that government has no business in nominating representatives to be part of the Public interest committee. You can find the email beneath this story.

Following the fracas between the GFA and embattled former football administrator, Kojo Bonsu, the Ghana Football Association wrote to government to nominate two representatives for the formation of the public interest committee, one of the standing committees of the GFA which is yet to be formed Information gathered by this reporter indicates that at a meeting between the Sports Minister, Rashid Pelpuo and officials of the GFA, the sports minister said government would nominate majority of the committee members.

According to sources close to the ministry and GFA, officials of the Ghana football association objected to the ministers’ proposals Following the meeting, the GFA officially wrote to the ministry to nominate two people to represent government on the committee.

When this reporter got hint of the information, he quickly sent an email to FIFA for clarification In its reply FIFA made it categorically clear that, the PIC shall not be composed by representatives of the government but the PIC will liaise with government on behalf of GFA for the benefit of the Ghanaian national teams and football in the country in general.

“With regards to the Public Interest Committee (PIC) FIFA would like to emphasize that is meant to be a standing committee within the Ghana Football Association.

The tasks of the PIC are, as outlined in Art. 70 of the statutes, to liaise with ministries and other governmental authorities (see http://www.ghanafa.org/gfa/statutes/).

In essence, the PIC shall not be composed by representatives of the government but liaise with them on behalf of GFA for the benefit of the Ghanaian national teams and football in the country in general.”

With the explanation of FIFA, Ghana risk being banned from all FIFA organized competition if members of the public interest committee include government representatives.

President John Evans Attah Mills pledged not to interfere with the operations of sporting bodies and associations in the country But with what is happening, it is clear that serious inference is taking place behind the scenes

It will be recalled that on November 23, 2009, embattled former Adidas country representative Kojo Bonsu caused a stir when he called for the immediate formation of the public interest committee, one of the standing committees of the FA which is yet to be form.

Kojo Bonsu, who is a member of the committee set to receive donations and reward the victorious national under-20 male football team, the Black Satellites is widely believed to have an eye for a managerial position at the GFA, something that he aims to secure before the commencement of both the 2010 African Cup of Nations and the World Cup in Angola and South Africa respectively next year. Kojo Bonsu contested with GFA President Kwesi Nyantakyi for the FA presidency in 2005 and lost massively.

Here is the E-mail from FIFA

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RE: government interference at Ghana football association

Friday, December 11, 2009 7:03 AM

From: "Media Office (FIFA)"

To: niiayitetteh@yahoo.com

Dear Rexford

Thanks for your message.

As previously mentioned, FIFA closely monitors the situation regarding the Ghana Football Association and a potential governmental interference.

As you correctly state, this topic was also informally discussed during a gathering between H.E. Mr. Rashid Pelpuo, the GFA President, Mr. Kwesi Nyantakyi, Mr. Abedi Pelé and Mr. Jérôme Champagne, FIFA's Director of International Relations, at the end of the Final Draw for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in Cape Town last Friday.

With regards to the Public Interest Committee (PIC) FIFA would like to emphasize that is meant to be a standing committee within the Ghana Football Association. The tasks of the PIC are, as outlined in Art. 70 of the statutes, to liaise with ministries and other governmental authorities (see http://www.ghanafa.org/gfa/statutes/). In essence, the PIC shall not be composed by representatives of the government but liaise with them on behalf of GFA for the benefit of the Ghanaian national teams and football in the country in general.

Kind regards

FIFA Media department