Is Techiman City in or out?

The Ethics Committee of the GFA relegated newly promoted Premier league side, Techiman City and Wa African United to division two, after they found them guilty of match fixing in their last season division one league encounter.

It is clear that the Ethics Committee failed to invite all parties that were involved before they gave out their ruling at a time the Premier League Board (PLB) and the GFA had released fixtures for the 2015-16 season.

I was surprised the judicial bodies of the GFA sanctioned that the PLB could go ahead with the GPL, while a case pending could change who qualifies to play in the league in the upcoming season. The argument raised was that when Tema Youth petitioned the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) to place an injunction on the league they weren’t granted because in their wisdom it would delay the league, hence likewise the GFA could also apply the same logic by letting the league start while Techiman City and Wa African United case pend at the Ethics Committee. The judicial bodies forgot that all internal arbitration processes on the Tema Youth case were exhausted before the case went to CAS and in their wisdom an injunction would jeopardize the start of the league, so they need to take their time and come out with a ruling without disrupting the football calendar.

However to the surprise of everyone just after the fixtures of the GPL had been released and the home grounds of Techiman City inspected, it was then that the Ethics Committee came out with their ruling on the match fixing by demoting Tachiman City and Wa African United to division 2.

The big question is why did the Ethics Committee wait for registration to complete and for the league fixtures to be released before they ruled on the matter that had been pending for several months?

Some GFA officials have come out that the Ethics Committee is an independent body, so they are not required to communicate to the association when they want to come out with their ruling.

I believe the Ethics Committee don’t work in isolation, but within the confines of the statutes and regulations of the GFA, hence they are accountable to the President of the FA. If the Ghana FA managed to even petition the Chief Justice to fast track the court case between King Faisal and the association last season, why can’t the GFA ensure their standing committees hasten their work on a matter and also keep them posted on when they would come out with their rulings?

I t think being an independent body lies in the fact that nobody can influence their decision, but not trying to be like an island by keeping the FA in the dark.

Techiman City following the ruling have appealed against the decision and applied for a stay of execution, but there is a new amendment which states that the same body that rules on a case should be the body to grant a stay of execution. However, up till now no stay has been given, but the Techiman club are preparing to take part in the league when it starts in the weekend.

There is a divided opinion as to whether the league should start on 20th February or not due to the development on the Techiman City case.

Even if a new club replaces Techiman City can that club put up the desired performance to survive in the Ghana Premier League (GPL)? The transfer window has already closed and most of the quality players in the system have been recruited by the other premier league clubs, so they would be left with limited choices.

On the other hand should Techiman City maintain their premier league status, but lose the appeal case and review case would they seize to continue participating in the league, after some matches had been played?

The various adjudication bodies have been the major problem facing the Ghana Premier League in recent times: If it is not the Ethics Committee, it the Disciplinary Committee or the Appeals Committee or Review Committee. They have let down Ghana football and always make room for people to criticize the Kwesi Nyantakyi led administration. They either slow their judgment or are inconsistent in the delivery of justice and that has made a lot of people to lose confidence in them. Several people in the football cycles have also recommended for a sole judge to deal with disciplinary issue to ensure quick decision making.

It seems all is set for the league to start with the Premier League Board having announced to launch the league on Wednesday, but with 4 days to go its commencement is in limbo because of a pending case.