George Afriyie calls for deeper reforms in Ghana football

Speaking on Sporty FM, Afriyie raised concerns about governance structures within the GFA, including the powers of the Executive Committee and the work of the Normalisation Committee established during the 2018 football crisis.

He suggested that opportunities provided by the association could influence how some individuals speak about its administration.

“We can make a case before FIFA and explain why the 1.24 size, because if you have the 1.24 size, this is what you get, the Tejani’s kind of talks. This is the kind of thing,” Afriyie said.

He cited Takyi Arhin’s trips abroad, which he said were facilitated by the GFA, to question whether individuals who had benefited from such opportunities would openly criticise the association.

“Takyi has been taken to America; he went on a ticket of the FA to America, went to Poland, so why wouldn’t he speak like this? Why wouldn’t he speak like this?” he asked.

Afriyie insisted that Ghana football needed reforms that addressed its underlying structural and governance challenges.

“So the issue is about real reforms. We need to do proper reforms,” he said.

The former GFA vice-president also questioned whether the Normalisation Committee, appointed by FIFA in 2018, had adequately addressed the problems that led to the crisis in Ghana football.

The committee was tasked with managing the GFA’s daily affairs, reviewing its statutes to ensure compliance with FIFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF) requirements, and organising elections under revised statutes.

Afriyie expressed concern about the powers exercised by the GFA Executive Committee, arguing that its authority had expanded as its membership was reduced.

“You see now, they’ve even given certain powers to the ExCo. And you know, the ExCo has been reduced from 24, 23, to now about 12. Now, the ExCo has powers to do a lot of things, without reference to the Congress of the Ghana Football Association,” he said.

The GFA identifies Congress as its supreme legislative body, while the Executive Committee is responsible for key executive functions within the association.

Afriyie also raised concerns about the GFA’s corporate arrangements, alleging that the association had registered two companies and questioning how representatives and shares were allocated.

“As we speak today, the GFA has gone to register two companies. Two. They’ve chosen their own representatives on the company registration, and given shares to an outside company,” he alleged.

“These are the things that are facing Infantino as we speak,” he added, referring to FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

His comments come amid renewed calls for changes to Ghana football’s governance and administration, with questions being raised about accountability, decision-making and the relationship between the GFA’s executive leadership and Congress.

Source:Fiilasports/ghanasoccernet