The GFA Appeals Committee has decided to stand by its earlier decision to refer the alleged match fixing and bribery case between Wa African United and Techiman City to a properly constituted committee or judicial body.

This decision was taken after the Ethics Committee called for the Appeals Committee to take a second look at its decision released on Monday 5th October, 2015.

Below is the full decision of the Appeals Committee:

PANELISTS 1. ALHAJI FAROUCK SEIDU – VICE CHAIRMAN 2. OWUSU ANSAH AWARE – MEMBER 3. CLAUDE OPPON – MEMBER 4. DIVINE SUNU – MEMBER 5. KWAME TAKYI – MEMBER 6. DANIEL ODURO – SECRETARY

The Ethics Committee chaired by DCOP Kofi Boakye delivered a decision on the 14th September, 2015 in respect of a bribery allegation made against Techiman City FC by WA Africa United FC. The Ethics Committee found both clubs guilty of bribery and were demoted to the next division.

Techiman City FC, dissatisfied with the decision appealed to this Committee which also delivered its decision on the 5th October, 2015. Techiman City FC in their appeal raised a jurisdictional issue to the effect that the Vice Chairman of the Ethics Committee who at all material times chaired the Committee was not qualified per article 4(2) of the Code of Ethics of the GFA Regulations and therefore the Committee lacked the requisite jurisdiction to investigate the allegation. This Committee found that indeed per the said article 4(2), the Committee was not properly constituted and therefore lacked the requisite jurisdiction to investigate the allegation.

Accordingly, the Committee remitted the matter to the General Secretary to be placed before a properly constituted committee to investigate the allegation. The Ethics Committee, this time chaired by the Chairman, Nana Adjei Ampofo, renowned lawyer with over 35 years experience at the bar. The Ethics Committee this time round per its decision was of the view that the Appeals Committee’s decision was made per incuriam because the Appeals Committee’s attention was not drawn to the amendment made to the qualification of the Vice Chairman of the Ethics Committee in the year 2012 at Congress to the effect that the Vice Chairman only have to be a lawyer simpliciter.

For this reason, the Ethics Committee were of the view that this Committee should have a second look at its decision regarding the qualification of DCOP Kofi Boakye as Vice Chairman. The effect of the decision of the Ethics Committee chaired by Nana Adjei Ampofo is that DCOP Kofi Boakye, the Vice Chairman of the Ethics Committee was qualified when he chaired the Committee that investigated the bribery allegation and therefore the committee was properly constituted.

We have looked again at our decision dated 5/10/15 and the minutes of the 2012 Congress and we wish to state that, there is no indication that the qualification of the Vice Chairman of the Ethics Committee, being 10 years experience at the bar has been amended at the time the decision in question was made. In the circumstances, the Appeals Committee’s decision still stands. The matter should be placed before a properly constituted committee or judicial body to deal with same.

We wish also to state that we are also mindful of the fact that presently the qualification of the Vice Chairman of the Ethics Committee has been amended to a lawyer with 5 years experience at the bar at the GFA 22nd Ordinary Congress held on the 9th and 10th November, 2015.

DATED IN ACCRA THIS 27TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2015 SIGNED: ALHAJI FAROUCK SEIDU (VICE CHAIRMAN)