The Ethics Committee has delivered its decision on the alleged match-fixing case between Wa African United and Techiman City which was referred to it by the Appeal’s Committee of the GFA.

Below is the full decision of the Ethics Committee:

PANEL 1. NANA ADJEI AMPOFO – CHAIRMAN

2. IS-HAK AL-HASSAN – MEMBER

3. ADDAI KYEREMEH – MEMBER

WILLIAM BOSSMAN – SECRETARY

We have carefully read the decision of the Appeals Committee of the GFA which by virtue of Article 42.7 of the GFA Statutes and Article 37. 13(a) of the General Regulations of the GFA, is ordinarily final and binding on us. However, these rules and regulations also state that the Appeals Committee may review its decisions.

We have however decided to remit the matter to the Appeals Committee because we are of the considered view that their decision was given per incuriam.

A decision is said to have been given per incuriam when a relevant or applicable rule or regulation has not been brought to the attention of the Court and the Court has given the decision in ignorance or forgetfulness of the existence of that relevant or inconsistent provision of the Statutes or Regulations.

What was quoted by the Appeals Committee in its ruling (Article 4.1 of the Code of Ethics) differs from the decision of Congress held on 26th and 27th September, 2012 which was unanimously adopted.

The congress rather decided on the membership of the Ethics Committee as follows: a. Chairman b. Vice Chairman c. Three other members

The Chairman shall be a lawyer with a minimum of ten (10) years experience and the Vice Chairman shall also be a lawyer.

See minutes of the 2012 Congress of the GFA and memorandum to the Ethics Committee from the Acting General Secretary. In particular, pages 4 and 5 and also in the written minutes of congress showing that Mr. Ntow Fiako moved for the adoption of the report and the report was unanimously adopted after Oloboi Commodore had seconded the motion.

Other rules and regulations relating to the Ethics Committee were also adopted.

It appears that the relevant adopted rules and regulations were not included in the papers which were sent to the publishers of the booklet (GFA Regulations) and this might have misled the Appeals Committee.

Consequently, the Appeals Committee erred in saying that DCOP Kofi Boakye was not qualified to be Vice Chairman of the Ethics Committee when by the rules adopted by Congress he was qualified.

It is for this reason that we are of the view that the decision should be looked at again by the Appeals Committee in as far as the qualification of DCOP Kofi Boakye is concerned.

SIGNED: NANA ADJEI AMPOFO CHAIRMAN (ETHICS COMMITTEE)