Former Ghana FA Vice President George Afriyie has lamented the verdict issued against Division One League club Phar Rangers, Nana Yaw Amponsah and other Board of Directors of the club.
The former CAF Marketing Committee member has hit hard at GFA President Kurt Okraku over the decision, saying the former Dreams FC President wouldn’t have been President of the FA if the same principle was used against him.
“Kurt Okraku wouldn’t have been an FA President if the GFA had banned the Board of Directors and the Shareholders of Dreams Football Club when they were banned,” he told Kumasi-based Pure FM.
The Ghana Football Association on Wednesday announced its verdict on the fate of Division One League side Phar Rangers, its shareholders and board of directors.
Asante Kotoko CEO Nana Yaw Amponsah is a shareholder and director of Phar Rangers FC and he is affected by the ban slapped on the club and its shareholders and directors.
The Disciplinary Committee of the GFA says it has placed a 5-year ban on the Zone III club for writing a note of withdrawal from the Ghanaian leagues and rescinding the decision within three days. The statement said the club misconducted themselves and have been slapped the club, its shareholders and directors with a 5-year ban.
The bankroller of Division One League side Okyeman Planners FC has jumped to the defence of Nana Yaw Amponsah and Phar Ranger saying the ruling is bad and wrong and must be appealed.
“The Ghana FA ruling on Phar Rangers is WRONG and BAD. I have told Phar Rangers to appeal the Disciplinary Committee decision and I strongly believe that the decision would be overturned. How can you ban a shareholder without a charge?,” he told OB Trice on Pure FM.
Naa Odofoley Nortey, lawyer for the GFA during the period of the FIFA Normalisation Committee, has criticised the association for its decision to ban the club and its shareholders and directors.
“Tell me its a bad joke. It can’t be right. Basic principles. You can’t punish a party not named on a charge sheet. Secondly, article 13 (1) states that withdrawal from a competition is a misconduct. Further in that article the punishment is clearly prescribed. Loss of points and a fine for thousand Ghana. A careful reading of the GFA statutes particularly articles 17, 18, 19 and 24 makes it clear that its only congress that expel, suspend or remove a member. Yes I have read the GFA disciplinary code especially article (6) 2. It doesn’t apply here. In any case how do you punish someone you have not charged? I vex,” she wrote.
The ban on shareholders and board of directors would prevent Asante Kotoko CEO Nana Yaw Amponsah from getting involved in any football related activities, meaning he would not be able to hold himself in any capacity in football again including his role as the highest ranking executive official of Kotoko.
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