In a stunning turn of events, George Afriyie, the former Ghana Football Association (GFA) vice president, has taken a bold step to challenge his disqualification from the upcoming GFA presidential election. This unexpected move comes as Afriyie vehemently contends that his disqualification was a grave error, violating the fundamental principles of natural justice and fair hearing.
According to a report by Joy Sports, Afriyie has filed a notice of appeal and appeal with the appeals committee, seeking to overturn the decision of the Elections Committee that declared him ineligible for the GFA presidency. At the center of this controversy lies an endorsement discrepancy that led to his disqualification.
The Elections Committee had identified that one of Afriyie’s endorsements, which came from Victory Warriors FC, was not properly signed by the authorized signatory of the club. Consequently, this invalidated endorsement left him with four instead of the required minimum of five endorsements.
In response to his disqualification, Afriyie made a bold move to obtain the unedited recording of the vetting proceedings that took place on September 7, 2023. However, much to his dismay, the committee informed him that their work and discussions during the vetting process are not shared with parties or the public. They stated that the vetting proceedings would only be made available to an appellate body in the case of a dispute of fact, not law.
Undeterred by these obstacles, Afriyie’s appeal puts forth several critical arguments. Firstly, he asserts that the committee misunderstood the requirements for contesting the GFA Presidency and wrongly applied relevant regulations to his case. He accuses the committee of a blatant breach of natural justice and fair hearing by neglecting to apply certain regulations that should have been taken into consideration.
Furthermore, Afriyie raises a concerning point regarding the composition of the Elections Committee. He highlights that there was an additional member present during his vetting, which directly contradicts the mandated composition of five members as stipulated by the GFA statutes.
The outcome of Afriyie’s appeal carries significant weight, as it will determine whether he is eligible to compete for the GFA presidency in this year’s election. However, it should be noted that an injunction filed by King Faisal may potentially hinder the conduct of the election, adding another layer of complexity to the unfolding drama.
As the football fraternity eagerly awaits the resolution of this captivating saga, the overriding question of justice, fairness, and adherence to regulations looms large. Will George Afriyie’s appeal succeed in overturning his disqualification and grant him the opportunity to contend for the GFA presidency? Only time will tell as this enthralling chapter in Ghanaian football continues to captivate the nation.
