Alhaji M. N. D. Jawula, immediate past Chairman of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) on Thursday, broke the long silence on how 450,000 dollars being a grant by the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) towards organisation of last year's Africa Cup of Nations co-hosted by Ghana and Nigeria, was disbursed.

He told a GFA congress in Accra that the money was not given to the GFA directly but rather to the Ghana government at the request of the state.

Alhaji Jawula said the government requested assistance from CAF during one of the visits by CAF president Issa Hayatou to aid her in co-hosting the bi-annual tournament successfully and it was paid to the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

He could not however say how the money was disbursed because a report from the Audit Service read at the congress said the ministry's account was still being audited.

Alhaji Jawula whose four-soccer-season turner of office ended last Tuesday however said that CAF gave 200,000 dollars to the GFA for sports development out of which 40,000 dollars was used in acquiring a new plot of land for a permanent office for the association at Cantonment in Accra.

He admitted that the GFA erred by not informing the Executive Council, which is the highest body of the association before the money was disbursed.

Touching on the performance of the Black Stars, he expressed optimism that the Stars will qualify for the 2002 Korea/Japan World Cup.

He asked the technical bench to emphasise on selecting active local players and de-emphasise on non-active foreign-based players to achieve results.

On the standard of the game, Alhaji Jawula said the standard of soccer in the country is high taking into account the success chalked by Accra Hearts of Oak.

He called on members to help furnish officials with right ages of players in order to do avoid fielding of "over-age" players at the junior levels.

Congress could not elect a new GFA chairman because the new minister Mallam Yusif Isa who is supposed to nominate two persons - one to head the GFA and the other as executive member, was only sworn into office on Wednesday.

The Executive Council however on Tuesday confirmed two elected persons by the Ghana League Club Association. They are Lawyer Owusu Ansah (GFA Vice-Chairman), La-Danso. The GFA appointed Mr Worlanyo Agra to steer the affairs of the GFA until the minister nominates it representative.

An extra-ordinary congress will be organised later to elect the nominees.