The Ghana Football Association says the recent allegations that it paid as bribes to referees to aid their qualification to the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals cannot distract them from reaching the 2018 finals.

There are reports that an amount of US$ 100,000 captured under unclassified and indemnity was used to influence match officials.

This bad press could have a negative effect on the Black Stars who begin their qualification in October against Uganda at home.

But Ghana FA Executive Committee Winfred Osei says they remain focused since the allegations are baseless.

"Far from it, the FA is still focused. We will not let distractions take us out of the way at all. We have not said anywhere in our official statement that we have paid bribes to any officiating officials,” he said.

"I will entreat that media that the best source of information for you to act on is from the federation. So far as the federation is concerned we are concentrating on the world cup qualifiers and that is what we expect everybody to do.

"Subsequently our outfit will call for a press conference within that we can raise all issues concerning this matter but for now we have to concentrate on getting the job done."