Soccer News of Friday, 9 January 2004

Source: GNA

GFA to undergo reforms

Accra, Jan. 9, GNA - The Ghana Football Association (GFA) is to undergo major reforms to overhaul the system and abolish the Executive Council system.

The idea according to a GFA source gathered by the GNA Sports is to present a solitary football controlling body capable of taking major decisions and will be responsible for their actions or inactions. The new management board to be known as Executive Committee would be made up of between nine and 15 members.

The present Executive Council is dominated by members of the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) wielding enormous powers and has a say in every major decision taken by the management board.

This, according to many soccer connoisseurs, limits the powers of the management board, which are unfortunately held responsible for any mess at the GFA.

The new system if implemented, will give enough room for the Chairman to exert himself so that when things go wrong, he would be held liable.

Meanwhile, a source at the Executive Council has said the extension of the term of the current GFA board members to March, this year, is not to help them perpetuate themselves in office.

He said it is rather meant to enable the GFA clear a backlog of unsolved problems including the infamous deduction of 12 points from Goldfields for allegedly fielding an unqualified player, the GHALCA Top Four Tournament and the promotion and relegation issues of the last premier league.

Some of the chief reasons for the extension are to heed to GHALCA's plea to present an audited account to its members after the Top Four tournament expected to end in February, to pave the way for the association's congress.

The source said it is only after GHALCA's congress to elect new executives with one of them to become the vice Chairman of the GFA- that the FA could also hold its congress.