Anas’ #12: GFA dissolution illegal – Mahama Ayariga warns

Government’s decision to dissolve the Ghana Football Association (GFA) following revelations of corruption and underhand dealings by key executives has been criticised as illegal.

Chairman of Parliament’s Subsidiary Legislation Committee, Mahama Ayariga, says the government may be acting beyond the powers granted it by the constitution.

“To the extent that there is no constitutional provision vesting government with those powers and there is no act of parliament vesting government with those powers it cannot take those actions,” Mr Ayariga said.

President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Thursday dissolved GFA after a private investigative company, Tiger Eye PI documented rampant bribery and corruption in the game.

Sports Minister Isaac Asiama confirmed the dissolution and said all its officers can no longer carry themselves as FA officials.

“It has been dissolved with immediate effect”, he told Joy News’ Evans Mensah on Newsnight.

“When we say the FA is dissolved it means all functions, all activities are all dissolved”, he said and also mentioned the indefinite suspension of the Premier League.

Former GFA President, Kwesi Nyantakyi

The drastic decision by the President has been hailed by many and comes 24 hours after the premiering of the documentary at the Accra International Conference Center.

However, speaking on Upfront, a current affairs programme on MultiTV, Mr Ayariga told show host, Raymond Acquah, that the decision to dissolve the GFA would have been lawful if the government had sought parliamentary approval.

“They [goverement] would rather have to convince members of the Association to take those actions against their individual members pursuant to their regulations,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Sports Committee in Parliament, Isaac Agyekum, says the decision to dissolve the GFA is best for the country.

“I believe that the lawyers will always look at things from their legal perspective but any Ghanaian who has followed the trend and the issues of GFA until now will agree that they have come to a point where they have lost control of issues,” he said.

Source: myjoyonline.com