Need To Reform Ghana Football Association

Following the public viewing of the documentary by Ace investigative journalist, Anas Aremayaw Anas, a number of issues have emerged calling for appropriate steps to prevent the recurrence of corrupt practices in football administration in the country. While many Ghanaians think that the GFA must be dissolved with immediate effect based on the fact that it receives public funding, others are of the view that the national football body cannot be dissolved since it is registered as a private entity. The truth of the matter is that we need to trigger a reform process that involves major stakeholders in the football fraternity. This reform will have certain implications. First of all, it will mean that immediate steps need to be taken to clean the mess and restore the image of the country as far as national and global football is concerned. Secondly, systems and structures must be put in place to establish transparency and good corporate governance at all levels. In view of this, the way out is to quicken the cleaning process and restore dignity and trust in the GFA and also in other football institutions so that the game of football which is the passion of the nation will continue to occupy its rightful place in the hearts of Ghanaians. It is, therefore, most welcome that the Executive Committee of the GFA has decided that all officials implicated in the documentary step aside from all football-related activities with immediate effect while the conduct of the said officials has been referred to the GFA Ethics Committee to go through the judicial process. Also, a five-member team has been instituted to meet government for a resolution of the current impasse and draw up a programme for lasting reforms. Another decision is that the GFA is to come out with a roadmap for the election of a substantive President in accordance with its statutes. These are positive developments that must be exploited to correct anomalies in the system. It is, therefore, important for all Ghanaians to desist from all forms of political gimmick to score political points.

The issue at stake provides an opportunity to clean the entire system of football administration in the country. This should be the focus of the nation but no other considerations of frivolous nature. It is also significant to note that fair play in competitive football is the needed hallmark or yardstick for all tournaments, whether at the sub-district, regional, national or international level. If as a global football body, FIFA and its affiliate institutions stand for fair play and ethical conduct in all football tournaments, then it should support Ghana to reform the GFA for the better especially in the face of the documentary evidence against the GFA President and other officials in the country. What is happening at the GFA front also provides an opportunity for the country to initiate similar moves aimed at ridding the country of all corrupt practices in order to ensure that there is fair play, transparency and good conduct in all transactions in various sectors across the country. The unpleasant developments involving the GFA are very unfortunate but this is the time to take drastic measures, including a possible dissolution of the national football body or total reforms, for the restoration of dignity and respect.

BY: DR. KOFI AMPONSAH-BEDIAKO, DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS, GHANA STANDARDS AUTHORITY.