<<Print>>

A large chunk of Ghana�s 25 million citizens would dearly want the current GFA administration to be brought down to earth because it is felt they are too powerful. If that is what the government want to do with the ongoing Commission of Inquiry, they would have lost from the very beginning. They would not beat the GFA � at least not at this place and time. Rising resentment It is true that you would find precious few who think the GFA�s current administration is not corrupt. It is also true that knowing this, the government rode the wave of the Black Stars� fantastic failure before and during the World Cup to constitute the three-man Commission to knock some sense into the FA in a nice way. What the Commission can achieve is to further sully the reputation of the GFA in terms of how badly they managed the Black Stars� technical direction in Brazil, as well as matters of indiscipline. Because there would be crucial GFA general elections next year, this can damage the image of the current Kwesi Nyantakyi-led administration enough to get them out of power. But the Commission, in fairness, have publicly said several times that demonizing the GFA is not their mission. Let�s hope that is the case. Otherwise, they will fail. This is why. 1. Fifa has rules. Like every other organization, the world football governing body has statutes detailing how member associations operate. It is important to note that Fifa does not lose anything if Ghana is banned. Ghana needs Fifa more than Fifa needs Ghana, because the ordinary man on the street wants to be part of the global football family. Sepp Blatter would panic if England threatens to leave, but Ghana? Please. 2. You (Ghana) agreed to join Fifa. Therefore, you agree to obey them. Else, if you think the Fifa kitchen is too hot, please get out. 3. Fifa have not said don�t punish corrupt officials. They only say do not touch the structure of the FA. Examples around Africa abound where Fifa has allowed governments to punish corrupt FA officials. Exactly a year ago this month, former Benin Football Federation president Anjorin Moucharafou was re-arrested and sent to jail two days after he declined to run for a third term. He had been arraigned before a court in July 2011 for misappropriation of the federation�s funds, then he was remanded in custody at the Cotonou Civil Prison. His crime? Anjorin had been accused of mishandling $650,000 sponsorship money from mobile phone company MTN between 2008 and 2010. He was summoned alongside the Benin FA�s accountant Cecile Houssou for the same charges. What did Fifa do? Nothing. In fact, Fifa makes it a point to encourage member associations to be accountable to their governments and sponsors. 4. Most people think the GFA are afraid. Really? Actually, they are not scared at all. The FA are simply safeguarding the entire country from being banned because of the way the Commission of Inquiry kick-started its operations. It must be said that it�s largely for their own interests, and not because they love Ghana that much. Article 279 of Ghana�s constitution says such a commission �shall have the powers, rights and privileges of the High Court or a Justice of the High Court at a trial.� By virtue of how it is formed, the Committee can pass judgment that CAN touch the structure of the FA. And if that happens, Ghana will be banned. If the FA are afraid of anything, it is that the lucrative competitions they partake in are under threat because of a looming Fifa ban.