The Ghana Football Association (GFA), has called on members of the football governing body to approve the proposed new nomination fees to aid the organisation of its Presidential and Executive Council elections this year.
The FA in response to a petition by Division One League Club, New Edubiase United allayed the fears of some members that the current leadership of the association is ‘coercing members to sign documents, to postpone the elections beyond their mandate.
“…the Executive Council of the GFA proposed in item 12 of the agenda an “Approval of GFA Election Nominations Fees”. On what basis are we going to discuss this matter, when members do not even know when the GFA elections would be held?
“We have also been made aware of the GFA’s deliberate attitude of:
a. coercing some members of the GFA to secretly sign documents in order to postpone the GFA Elections, which is arguably supposed to take place this year to a later date;
b. coercing some members of the GFA to secretly sign documents giving authority to the GFA Executive Council to amend Articles 31 and 32 and in particular Article 32 (2) (q) of the GFA Statutes 2019.”
But, the FA through its General Secretary, Prosper Harrison Addo, said the claims and fears are from the truth.
“Your fear that the GFA Election would be held beyond the mandate of the current Executive Council is not supported by the facts,” a portion of the letter said.
“You presented your club at the recent engagement by the Executive Council with Division One clubs (same engagements were held with GPL, WPL clubs, etc).
“At the meetings, members(clubs) were informed categorically that an Elective Congress will be held before the end of the mandate of the current Executive Council.
“You were also informed that the Election Committee had held meetings and was working on the Roadmap and would ensure that the elections take place as required by the GFA Statutes,” it stated.
The letter, however, drew New Edubiase’s attention to the fact that there’s a proposal before Congress seeking approval of new nomination fees for the elections.
The proposal, submitted on June 24, 2023, suggested that the nomination fee of the President be increased from GHC 5,000 to GHC 50,000 while that of the Executive Council will be increased from GHC 2,500 to GHC 15,000.
“…the Election Committee will need the approved Nomination Fee from the Congress of the 10th of July 2023 before Nominations are opened by including the fees in the Election Roadmap and Guidelines,” the letter stated.
The GFA will assemble in Kumasi for its 29th Ordinary session of Congress. The approval of the new nomination fees will pave the way for the roadmap for the elections to be organised later this year.
Source: Myjoyonline