Cricket Association reacts to former Chairman's allegations

Accra, Feb. 4, GNA - The Ghana Cricket Association (GCA) has reacted to series of allegations levelled against it by its former member, Mr Prince Daniel Vanderpuye-Orgle who criticized the current executives of killing the game at the grassroots, stifling initiative and not doing enough to develop the sport.

Mr Dave Quaigrine, Chairman of the GCA said in a statement copied to the GNA Sports that the association was surprised at the sudden emergence of Vanderpuye-Orgle who decided to take a backstage stance since he was elected as the First Vice Chairman three years ago and has now ironically turned round to attack the association he abandoned. The statement said from all indications, "Mr Vanderpuye-Orgle wanted to be Chairman of the GCA and nothing else but because he was not offered that position, he has decided to criticized us".

The association also rubbished the alleged misappropriation of development funds from the International Cricket Council and the Sub regional body and asked if there was any money at all that could be misused.

The statement said there has always been only one cricket association - the GCA, and denied the existence of any Ghana Juvenile Cricket Association (GJCA).

It said Mr Vanderpuye-Orgle proposed the GJCA but that idea was kicked against on grounds that the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the International Olympic Committee frowned on two associations controlling a single sport.

Subsequently, the statement said, several committees were created under the association, one of which was to be in charge of the organizing the juvenile cricket league under the leadership of Mr Vanderpuye-Orgle.

The statement said it appreciated the effort of Mr Vanderpuye-Orgle at developing the game at the grassroots but said it is better for him to rescind his decision not to join the association to help prop up the sport rather than sit back and criticize. It said there is absolute calm at the GCA and assured the public of good showing by the national cricket teams in the coming years.