Congress corrects voting error

An extra-ordinary congress of the GFA yesterday re-voted to uphold an earlier decision to increase the Division One League (DOL) Clubs from 48 to 56.

The congress, however, failed to endorse a second motion that favoured a 2002 Division One League without a relegation exercise.

Ninety-one per cent of delegates present endorsed the first motion, which amended the constitutional provision that stipulates that the Division One League will comprise only 48 club. Only six delegates suggested otherwise.

The other motion, however, suffered a big casualty. By 42 to 39 with just one abstention, congress annulled the motion to carry out the league without any relegation exercise.

By those numbers, the proposers of that motion failed to get the required 75 per cent votes from delegates present at the congress to amend the constitutional provision that stipulates a relegation exercise for DOL Clubs after each league Season.

The extra-ordinary congress was necessitated by an error dictected after an earlier vote by two-thirds majority to amend a constitutional provision last December 12.

The GFA constitution clearly states that only a 75 per cent vote from delegates present can amend any section of the provisions so entrenched in the constitution.

The implication is that every decision taken at the earlier extra-ordinary congress carried no effect.

With that realisation, though relayed to congress belatedly, there was a need to correct the error to pave way for the start of the Division One League, hence yesterday's meeting.

By their votes at the earlier extra-ordinary congress, delegates agreed on a 2002 league without relegation but this was overturned at yesterday's congress.Meanwhile, the DOL board is meeting today to decide when to start the league and the modalities for the competition.

A one-round league competition was to have started last Sunday, but had to be postponed to enable the congress to carry out the necessary corrections.GFA Chairman, Mr Ben Kuofie, and GHALCA Chairman, Mr. J. Y. Appiah, were in agreement on the need to arrive at a consensus to move Ghana football forward.

When the GHALCA boss remarked, "the future of Ghana football depends on what happens today," he was in all probability confirming Mr Kuofie's admonishing that ?if we fail to achieve a good decision today, then we are finished."

The two and GFA Executive Council Chairman Alhaji Y. Ibrahim appealed to all to ensure that the mistakes of today are corrected for the future in the interest of Ghana football.