Number 12: ‘Corrupt’ officials step aside en bloc; banned from football activities

All officials who allegedly took bribe from undercover journalist captured in an investigative documentary titled the Number 12 have been asked to “step aside” by the Ghana Football Association. The decision was taken at the Executive Committee meeting of the GFA on Friday June 8, 2018, a statement published on the official website of the FA said on Sunday. The affected officials which include referees, match commissioners and foot ball administrators are to face the GFA’s ethics committee chaired by Commissioner of Police Kofi Boakye, who is also a lawyer by profession. Until their fate is determined, the officials have also been ordered to “steer away from all football related activities with immediate effect”. The President of GFA Mr. Kwesi Nyantakyi who was also implicated in the documentary as well as his representative in the Northern sector have resigned from their respective positions. READ: Abu Imoro; Nyantakyi’s ‘accomplice’ in Anas’ #12 resigns The GFA has promised it would not interfere in the works of the Ethics Committee and pledged to embrace any decision that the Ethics Committee may come out with. “That a five member team comprising of Messrs Kweku Eyiah (Leader), Benjamin Nab Eyison, Kurt Okraku (Spokesperson), Isaac Addo and Samuel Opoku Nti has been tasked to meet Government for a resolution of the current impasse as well as draw up a program for lasting reforms.” Meanwhile, World football governing body, FIFA has also communicated its decision to ban Mr. Nyantakyi for 90 days pending its own investigations after it was petitioned by Anas Aremeyaw Anas who put the investigative documentary together. Below is the full statement as published on GFA’s website The Executive Committee of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) met on June 8, 2018 and decided as follows:

1. All Officials of the GFA, shown to have allegedly committed various acts of misconduct, in the Tiger Eye PI documentary titled Number 12 shall step aside from their positions and steer away from all football related activities with immediate effect.
2. The conduct of the said Officials has been referred to the GFA Ethics Committee chaired by COP Kofi Boakye to go through the Judicial Process.
3. The GFA shall not interfere in the works of the Ethics Committee and shall embrace any decision that the Ethics Committee may come out with.
4. That the Referees Appointment Committee has been dissolved.
5. That all the competitions of the GFA have temporary been put on hold.
6. That a five member team comprising of Messrs Kweku Eyiah (Leader), Benjamin Nab Eyison, Kurt Okraku (Spokesperson), Isaac Addo and Samuel Opoku Nti has been tasked to meet Government for a resolution of the current impasse as well as draw up a program for lasting reforms.
7. The GFA shall soon come out with a road map for the elections of a substantive President in accordance with its Statutes.
8. That the GFA wishes to assure the general public that it shall take all legitimate steps to restore confidence and trust in the beautiful game. In this respect as a first step, the GFA wishes to offer its sincerest and unconditional apologies to the entire nation and all our stake holders.