Ghana Football Association#Dissolution

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) is the successor to the Gold Coast Football Association, which was one of the oldest football associations in Africa, having been founded in 1920.{{Cite web |title=Ghana Football Association, Biography |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/person/Ghana-Football-Association-3586 |access-date=2023-09-28 |website=www.ghanaweb.com}} The sport of football was introduced in Gold Coast by the European merchants in the late 19th century. As the game became popular, several amateur clubs were formed along the coast. Records indicate that Cape Coast and Accra were the first colonial cities in sub-Saharan Africa to host formal leagues in the Gold Coast. After a weak start in 1915, the league kicked off in 1922 with the Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club emerging as winners, taking the coveted Guggisberg shield – named after the progressive British governor of that period and the man who started the Accra Football League, Sir Gordon Guggisberg.{{Citation needed|date=January 2019}}{{Cite web |last=Yeboah |first=Thomas Freeman |date=19 December 2013 |title=On this day: The first ever professional Premier League game was played in Ghana |url=https://ghanasoccernet.com/on-this-day-the-first-ever-professional-premier-league-game-was-played-in-ghana |access-date=31 July 2023 |website=Ghana Soccernet}}{{Cite web |title=The History and Development of Football in Ghana |url=https://footballghana.com/the-history-and-development-of-football-in-ghana |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=Footballghana |date=19 August 2022 |language=en}}{{Cite web|date=19 August 2022 |title=The History and Development of Football in Ghana |website=Ghana Soccernet|url=https://ghanasoccernet.com/on-this-day-the-first-ever-professional-premier-league-game-was-played-in-ghana |access-date=31 July 2023}}

Association football was brought to the Gold Coast near the end of the 19th century by merchants from Europe, who had by then conquered the coastal areas and built forts and castles to facilitate trade. In their leisure time, the sailors would play football among themselves and with the indigenous people.

The popularity of the game spread quickly along the coast, culminating in the formation of the first football club, Excelsior, in 1903 by Mr. Briton, a Jamaican-born British citizen who was the then Head Teacher of Philip Quaque Government Boys School in Cape Coast. As the popularity of the game grew, other amateur clubs were formed along the coast, including: Accra Hearts of Oak, Accra Standfast, Cape Coast Venomous Vipers, Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarfs (now Cape Coast Ebusua Dwarfs), Sekondi Hasaacas and Sekondi Eleven Wise.

In 1952, the Government of the Gold Coast enacted Ordinance 14, which established the Gold Coast Amateur Sports Council, and granted the Government of the Gold Coast the legal authority to control all amateur Associations, including Football.

As the popularity of the game spread throughout the country, the existing clubs met towards the end of 1930 and elected Richard Maabuo Akwei as their chairman.

Towards the middle of 1950, the clubs, spearheaded by Ohene Djan, accused Akwei of maladministration and questioned his ability to help grow Ghanaian Football. They therefore addressed petitions to the Governor of the Gold Coast, Sir Charles Arden-Clarke, and the Pioneer Sports Organizer, Joseph Ranadurai, on the maladministration of the Amateur Football Association by Akwei. While the petition was being addressed, Ohene Djan led a "Football Revolution" and succeeded in toppling the Akwei Administration in 1957.

In 1957, Ohene Djan was elected General Secretary of the Football Association by the clubs and the Ghana Amateur Football Association was officially founded. He strategically affiliated the Association with FIFA in 1958 and the CAF in 1960.CAF and FIFA, 50 years of African football – the DVD, 2009, Ghana Correspondence 18 June 1963. "MEMBERSHIP OF AFRICAN FOOTBALL CONFEDERATION: I refer to your letter No.RC/Vr of 22 March 1963, and inform you that my Association has been a member of the African Football Confederation since December 1960."

Ohene Djan was instrumental in securing sponsorship for the first Ghanaian FA cup competition from a pharmaceutical firm, Merrs R.R. Harding and Company. In the same year he succeeded in securing the services of an expatriate Coach, George Ainsley, for the National Team. Then in 1959, he succeeded again in organizing the first national league, before Ghana became a republic on 1st July, 1960.

Through the 1993 Winneba Declaration, Ghanaian football was able to shrug off its amateur status. The formation of professional teams allowed clubs to be incorporated under the companies code (Act 179, 1963) as Limited liability companies.

File:Kurt-okraku-standing-2305-g1050.jpg became current Ghana Football Association president on 7 October 2019.]]

The Association was dissolved 'with immediate effect' on 7 June 2018, after undercover journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas revealed the amount of corruption in the association and Ghanaian football in general through his investigative documentary, Number 12: When Greed and Corruption Become the Norm. Referees and officials of the association were filmed taking bribes.{{Cite news |title=Film shows African football officials taking cash |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44396127 |access-date=2023-07-31}} Former Sports Minister Isaac Kwame Asiamah referred to Kwesi Nyantakyi on Accra-based Joy FM as a "former president" because all arms and affiliates of the GFA stood dissolved. Due to that the 2018 Ghanaian Premier League was cancelled while FIFA banned Ghana from any international competition till further notice.{{Cite news |date=2018-06-08 |title=Fifa bans Ghana football head Kwesi Nyantakyi over 'cash gift' |language=en-GB |work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-44414780 |access-date=2023-07-31}}{{Cite news |date=2018-06-07 |title=Ghana dissolves football association after cash gifts scandal |language=en-GB |work=BBC News|publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-44406535 |access-date=2023-07-31}} The GFA was set to reopen in August 2019.{{Cite web |date=2018-06-07 |title=Ghana Football Association dissolved after bribery allegations |url=https://www.africanews.com/2018/06/07/ghana-football-association-dissolved-after-bribery-allegations/ |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=Africanews |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Ghana's football association dissolved after bribery claims – DW – 06/07/2018 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/fifa-suspends-ghanas-football-chief-after-dissolution-of-countrys-football-association/a-44116707 |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=Deutsche Welle|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Durosomo|first=Damola|title=Ghana Football Association Dissolved Following Documentary Exposing Widespread Corruption - Okayplayer |url=https://www.okayafrica.com/betraying-the-game-corruption-ghana-football-association-anas-aremeyaw-anas-disbanded-dissolved/ |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=Okayafrica |language=en}}

Elections were held in October 2019 and out of the six candidates who contested, Kurt Okraku emerged the winner.{{Cite web|url=http://www.myjoyonline.com/sports/2019/October-25th/live-ghana-fa-elections-finale-as-120-delegates-decide-new-president.php|title=GFA Elections: Kurt Okraku elected President – as it happened|website=MyJoyOnline.com|access-date=4 January 2020}} In November 2019, the Women's League Committee was put together. The team was made up of Hilary Boateng (chairperson), Rosalind Amoh (Vice chairperson), Nana Aba Anamoah, Cleopatra Nsia, Jerry Dogbatse, Nana Poku Fosu Geabour II and Christian Isaac Mensah.{{Cite web|url=https://ghananewsagency.org/sports/nana-aba-anamoah-rosalind-amoh-gets-gfa-appointment-160347|title=Nana Aba Anamoah, Rosalind Amoh gets GFA appointment|website=Ghana News Agency|access-date=4 January 2020}} In January 2020, Prosper Harrison Addo was appointed the General Secretary.{{Cite web|url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/sports/sports-news/gfa-appoints-prosper-harrison-addo-as-general-secretary.html|title=GFA appoints Prosper Harrison Addo as General Secretary|date=2 January 2020|website=Graphic Online|language=en-gb|access-date=4 January 2020}}

It was announced in early January 2020 that the technical crew of all the national teams had been disbanded. This was done with the intention of giving the sport a fresh start and enhancing the performance of the teams.{{Cite web|url=http://www.myjoyonline.com/sports/2020/January-4th/plans-underway-to-restructure-national-teams-gfa.php|title=Plans underway to restructure national teams – GFA|website=www.myjoyonline.com|access-date=7 January 2020}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.myjoyonline.com/sports/2020/January-4th/ghana-has-not-been-competitive-kurt-okraku-explains-kwesi-appiah-axing.php|title=Ghana has not been competitive – Kurt Okraku explains Kwesi Appiah axing|website=MyJoyOnline.com|access-date=7 January 2020}} Pursuant to the disbanding, Mercy Efua Tagoe-Quarcoo and CK Akonnor were appointed head coaches of the Black Queens and Black Stars respectively. Mercy Tagoe-Quarcoo was assisted by Charles Anokye Frimpong and Charles Akonnor by David Duncan.{{Cite web|url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/sports/sports-news/ghana-news-mercy-tagoe-named-as-black-queens-coach.html|title=Mercy Tagoe named as Black Queens coach|date=1 January 2020|website=Graphic Online|language=en-gb|access-date=16 January 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/sports/sports-news/black-stars-ck-akonnor-appointed-head-coach-of-ghana.html|title=Black Stars: CK Akonnor named Head Coach of Ghana|date=1 January 2020|website=Graphic Online|language=en-gb|access-date=16 January 2020}} The National Teams Department was added to the outfit of GFA and Mr Alex Asante who is a Deputy General Secretary was appointed as its acting head.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ghanafa.org/alex-asante-heads-newly-established-gfa-national-teams-department|title=Alex Asante heads newly established GFA National Teams Department|website=Ghana Football Association|access-date=16 January 2020}}

In September 2020, the Court of Arbitration for Sport dismissed an appeal by Wilfred Kwaku Osei Palmer who, amongst others, sought to nullify the Ghana Football Association presidential elections conducted in October 2019.{{Cite web|title=CAS throws out Osei Palmer's appeal against Ghana Football Association|url=https://www.goal.com/en-gh/news/cas-throws-out-osei-palmers-appeal-against-ghana-football/17oiz3lof90wf1fg9pdvsln8hy|website=Goal.com|access-date=18 September 2020}}

On 23 October 2020, the GFA signed an agreement with Decathlon Ghana, making the letter the official retail partner for Black Stars kits and equipment as well as other merchandising products.{{Cite web|date=2020-10-23|title=GFA signs partnership agreement with Decathlon|url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/sports/football/gfa-signs-partnership-agreement-with-decathlon/|access-date=2020-10-23|website=MyJoyOnline.com|language=en-US}} The deal was extended for another four years in November 2024.{{Cite web |date=26 November 2024 |title=Decathlon Ghana extends partnership with Ghana Football Association |url=https://ghanasoccernet.com/decathlon-ghana-extends-partnership-with-ghana-football-association |access-date=27 December 2024 |website=Ghana Soccernet |language=en}}

On 14 September 2022, Access Bank Ghana became official banking partner of the GFA in a US$250,000 one-year deal.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-14 |title=Access Bank named Division One League sponsor in $250k deal |url=https://www.businessghana.com/site/news/sports/270563/Access-Bank-named-Division-One-League-sponsor-in-250k-deal |access-date= |website=BusinessGhana}} PUMA is the official kit sponsor and Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) is the official sponsor of the senior national teams.{{Cite web |last=Association |first=Ghana Football |title=Partners |url=https://www.ghanafa.org/partners |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=Ghana Football Association|language=en}}

The Ghana Football Association is made up of nine (9) national teams.{{Cite web |last=Association |first=Ghana Football |title=Ghana Football Association |url=https://www.ghanafa.org/ |access-date=2023-09-28 |website=Ghana Football Association |language=en}} These teams are namely:

• Black Stars {{Cite web |last=Association |first=Ghana Football |title=Black Stars |url=https://www.ghanafa.org/category/black-stars |access-date=2023-09-28 |website=www.ghanafa.org |language=en}}
• Black Stars "B" {{Cite web |last=Association |first=Ghana Football |title=Black Stars 'B' |url=https://www.ghanafa.org/category/black-stars-b |access-date=2023-09-28 |website=www.ghanafa.org |language=en}}
• Black Starlets {{Cite web |last=Association |first=Ghana Football |title=Black Starlets |url=https://www.ghanafa.org/category/black-starlets |access-date=2023-09-28 |website=www.ghanafa.org |language=en}}
• Black Queens {{Cite web |last=Association |first=Ghana Football |title=Black Queens |url=https://www.ghanafa.org/category/black-queens |access-date=2023-09-28 |website=www.ghanafa.org |language=en}}
• Black Meteors {{Cite web |last=Association |first=Ghana Football |title=Black Meteors |url=https://www.ghanafa.org/category/black-meteors |access-date=2023-09-28 |website=www.ghanafa.org |language=en}}
• Black Maidens {{Cite web |last=Association |first=Ghana Football |title=Black Maidens |url=https://www.ghanafa.org/category/black-maidens |access-date=2023-09-28 |website=www.ghanafa.org |language=en}}
• Black Satellites {{Cite web |last=Association |first=Ghana Football |title=Black Satellites |url=https://www.ghanafa.org/category/black-satellites |access-date=2023-09-28 |website=www.ghanafa.org |language=en}}
• Black Princesses {{Cite web |last=Association |first=Ghana Football |title=Black Princesses |url=https://www.ghanafa.org/category/black-princesses |access-date=2023-09-28 |website=www.ghanafa.org |language=en}}
• Black Sharks {{Cite web |last=Association |first=Ghana Football |title=Black-sharks |url=https://www.ghanafa.org/category/black-sharks |access-date=2023-09-28 |website=www.ghanafa.org |language=en}}

The Foundation's Projects and Programmes are defined by 5 thematic or focus areas summarized under the CARES acronym: {{Cite web |last=Association |first=Ghana Football |title=Programmes & Projects |url=https://www.ghanafa.org/foundation/projects-and-programmes |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=www.ghanafa.org |language=en}}

• C - Community Development (Health & Education)
• A - Assistance to Underprivileged People & Groups
• R - Reduce, Reuse & Recycle
• E - Educate Fans on Hooliganism, Fair play and Integrity
• S - Support for welfare of ex-national players and football officials.

The Ghana Amateur Football Association was affiliated with CAF in 1960, and in 1963 won the bid to host the 5th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), to coincide with the Meeting of the (OAU) Heads of States and Government in Accra. Ghana won the trophy and went ahead again to successfully defend it in Tunisia in 1965.

After the 1965 triumph, Ghana hosted and won the 13th AFCON in 1978, and four years later, won it again in Tripoli, Libya. The team have won the AFCON four times (in 1963, 1965, 1978, and 1982), making Ghana the second most successful team in the contest's history, along with Cameroon.

Although the team did not qualify for the senior FIFA World Cup until 2006, Ghana has enjoyed tremendous success at the youth level, winning the FIFA World Under-17 title twice and finishing runner-up twice. Ghana has also finished second at the FIFA World Youth Championship twice.

Ghana became the first African country to win a medal in Football at the 1992 Summer Olympics.

In 2009, Ghana became the first African country to win the U-20 FIFA World cup by defeating Brazil.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/Today-in-History-Ghana-beat-Brazil-with-10-men-to-win-FIFA-U-20-World-Cup-789701|title=Today in History: Ghana beat Brazil with 10 men to win FIFA U-20 World Cup|website=www.ghanaweb.com|language=en|access-date=6 November 2019}}

With regard to women's football, the Ghana Black Queens have participated in two World Cup tournaments and the Olympic Games. They have also been runners-up to the Falcons of Nigeria in the Africa Cup of Nations series.

Ghana last hosted the AFCON Tournament in January 2008.

Ghana qualified for the AFCON Tournament in January 2017 after finishing top of Group H in the qualifying stages.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/38574550|title=Afcon 2017: Nations Cup prepares for kick off|date=1 January 2017|work=BBC Sport|access-date=7 January 2019|language=en-GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107232939/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/38574550|archive-date=7 January 2019|url-status=live}}

Ghana could not qualified for the 2025 Africa cup of nations for the first time since 2004.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-20 |title=Ghana's failure to qualify for 2025 AFCON a big blow – Ibrahim Tanko - Adomonline.com |url=https://www.adomonline.com/ghanas-failure-to-qualify-for-2025-afcon-a-big-blow-ibrahim-tanko/ |access-date=2024-11-26 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Mintah |first=Yaw Loic |date=2024-11-18 |title=2025 AFCON Qualifiers: Ghana ends campaign winless in abysmal and disappointing fashion |url=https://citisportsonline.com/2024/11/2025-afcon-qualifiers-ghana-ends-campaign-winless-in-abysmal-and-disappointing-fashion/ |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=Citi Sports Online |language=en-US}} Ghana football association apologized to Ghanaians for the Ghana black stars inability to qualify for AFCON 2025.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-21 |title=GFA issues apology to Ghanaians for Black Stars failure to qualify for AFCON 2025 - MyJoyOnline |url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/gfa-issues-apology-to-ghanaians-for-black-stars-failure-to-qualify-for-afcon-2025/ |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=www.myjoyonline.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2024-11-22 |title=GFA apologises to Ghanaians for Black Stars' 2025 AFCON qualifier failure - Adomonline.com |url=https://www.adomonline.com/gfa-apologises-to-ghanaians-for-black-stars-2025-afcon-qualifier-failure/ |access-date=2024-11-26 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2024-01-30 |title=GFA apologises to Ghanaians, accepts responsibility for Black Stars' early AFCON exit |url=https://citinewsroom.com/2024/01/gfa-apologises-to-ghanaians-accepts-responsibility-for-black-stars-early-afcon-exit/ |access-date=2024-11-26 |language=en-US}}

On Thursday 24th October, 2019, representatives from the Premier League, Division One League, and Women's Football came together at the secretariat of the Ghana Football Association in Accra to elect their respective representatives for the newly formed Executive Council.

Ten football administrators emerged as the chosen members for the 12-person Executive Council. This reconstituted council consists of distinguished representatives, including three from the Division One League, two from the Regional Association, one from Women's Football, and the remaining posts filled by members from the Premier League.

Below is the full list of the Executive Council

Premier League

• Tony Aubynn (Medeama SC)
• Frederick Acheampong (Ashanti Gold SC)
• George Amoako (Asante Kotoko)
• Kinsley Osei Bonsu (Bechem United)
• Nana Oduro Sarfo (Brekum Chelsea)

Division One League

• Randy Abbey (Hearts of Lions)
• Samuel Anim Addo (Young Apostles)
• Mark Addo (Nzema Kotoko)

RFA

• Linsford Asamoah (Eastern Region)

Women Football

• Madam Habiba Atta Forson (Fabulous Ladies)

An undercover investigation led by The Telegraph and Channel 4 accused Kwesi Nyantakyi and other officials of the Ghana Federation of match-fixing. According to this investigation however, the allegations involved only international friendlies – thus, the matches the Ghana national team played at the 2014 World Cup were not affected by the allegations.{{cite web | newspaper=The Telegraph | title=Football match-fixing: Ghana deal casts cloud over World Cup finals in Brazil | date=22 June 2014 | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/10918321/Football-match-fixing-deal-casts-cloud-over-World-Cup.html | access-date=22 June 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140623034649/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/10918321/Football-match-fixing-deal-casts-cloud-over-World-Cup.html | archive-date=23 June 2014 | url-status=live }} Kwesi Nyantakyi denied the match fixing allegations, saying, "the report of the newspaper or the media house is entirely not accurate," and "there is really no cause for alarm as far as I am concerned, because nothing untoward has happened involving me or the Federation".{{cite web | publisher=Ghana Football Federation | title=Nyantakyi denies agreeing match fixing contract | url=http://www.ghanafa.org/pages/gfa/201406/9712.php | access-date=23 June 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625114146/http://ghanafa.org/pages/gfa/201406/9712.php | archive-date=25 June 2014 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }}

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) issued a ruling in favor of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) in a legal dispute involving Tema Youth Football Club over the transfer of winger Joseph Paintsil to Belgian club KRC Genk. Joseph Paintsil joined KRC Genk from Tema Youth in 2018, and a dispute arose regarding the proper application of Article 33(5) C of the GFA statutes, which pertains to the payment of a percentage of training and transfer fees into a football development fund.

The CAS ruling upholds the GFA's position, and as a result, Tema Youth must pay €150,000 to the GFA. They were also required to pay €688,000 to Young Redbull FC (Paintsil's previous Ghanaian club) and €150,000 to the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA).

CAS rejected all claims brought by Tema Youth against Young Red Bull FC and similarly dismissed those targeting the GFA. Tema Youth was also ordered to pay the GFA 4,000 Swiss Francs as a contribution toward legal fees and other expenses related to the arbitration proceedings.

This ruling marks the conclusion of a series of legal proceedings initiated by Tema Youth SC, which began when Young Red Bull filed a claim against Tema Youth concerning their transfer agreement for Joseph Paintsil. The GFA Player Status Committee and Appeals Committee had previously ruled in favor of the GFA in this matter.

As a result of the CAS ruling, Tema Youth SC, currently in Ghana's third-tier league competition, will continue to incur point deductions for each match played until their outstanding debts are settled. Additionally, a transfer ban, both domestically and internationally, will be imposed until full settlement or a mutually agreed-upon resolution is reached.{{Cite web |title=Graphic Online |date=27 September 2023 |url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/sports/sports-news/gfa-wins-eur150-000-award-in-tema-youth-joseph-paintsil-transfer-fee-case.html}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://ghanafa.org/ Official website]
• [http://www.ghanaleague.com/ Ghana Premier League website]
• [http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/soccer/ Ghanaweb Football/Soccer]
• [http://ghanafa.org/gfasite/history/history.php?catid=2&subid=4 Official website History page] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071231104321/http://ghanafa.org/gfasite/history/history.php?catid=2&subid=4 |date=31 December 2007 }}
• [http://www.canqualifiers.com/ CAN Qualifiers 2008 Africa Cup of Nations] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061106054358/http://www.canqualifiers.com/ |date=6 November 2006 }}

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