Story By: Ahashie Judeliver Eli
George Afriyie, the former vice president of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and a prominent candidate vying for the association’s presidential position, has successfully filed his appeal after encountering initial setbacks at the GFA secretariat.
The appeal comes after his disqualification by the Elections Committee, citing violations of “Article 13(2)(j) of the Ghana Football Association statutes, 2019,” and his failure to secure the required support from GFA members.
Afriyie had a narrow three-day window to challenge the Elections Committee’s decision, which closed on September 11, 2023. On that crucial day, a video circulated, capturing the heated exchange between George Afriyie’s legal team and personnel at the GFA Secretariat.
Wilberforce Koomson, a former GHALCA vice president and a member of Afriyie’s campaign team, detailed the challenges they faced during the appeal filing process. “The team was initially denied access to the Ghana Football Association premises,” Koomson revealed during an interview with Happy FM. “Even after finally reaching the front desk, further delays ensued, as seen in the video depicting the disagreement at the GFA’s Secretariat. The front desk personnel appeared to be making calls and moving around, leaving us in limbo. Eventually, frustration led to the exchange.”
Despite these obstacles, Afriyie’s legal team managed to electronically submit their appeal within the stipulated timeframe. Already, King Faisal, a club relegated from the 2022/23 Ghana Premier League secured a court injunction which brought all election-related processes by the Elections Committee to a halt.