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The highlights of new statutes of the GFA which was agreed upon by members of congress are as follows:
Term of office
The new statutes of the Ghana Football Association which was adopted at the Extra-Ordinary Congress held at the Ghana Physician and Surgeon Council on Thursday have instituted that the president of the GFA can serve for a maximum of two terms- each term is 4 years
The old statutes of the Ghana Football Association had no term limit, which gave former President of the Ghana Football Association Kwesi Nyantakyi the power to serve for 13 years and but for his ban would have even sought re-election.
Powers of the GFA President reduced
The powers of the GFA President have been limited.
The GFA President was in charge as both the head of both the board (Executive Council) and the day-to-day running (Emergency Committee) of the association.
He signed contracts and was involved in the hiring and firing of staff, etc, but these responsibilities have now been handed to the General Secretary in the new statutes.
The General Secretary is empowered
The new statutes of the Ghana Football Association have empowered the General Secretary of the Ghana Football Association.
It has been stated explicitly that the GFA General Secretary is the head of administration of the association, hence will manage the day to day affairs of the GFA, which implies that he will work as the CEO of the football governing body of Ghana.
The General Secretary has the power to hire and fire any staff at the GFA Secretariat, upon the approval of the Executive Council. He is also the leader of all the businesses of the GFA- signs contracts and other agreements, but suggest to the approval of the Executive Council
The formation of Elections Committee
The new statutes required the GFA to form an Election Committee to be in charge of all elections in the Ghana Football Association (GFA) from the district to the national level.
Elections in the Ghana Football Association is organised by the Electoral Commission of Ghana, but with the new statutes, it would be a thing of the past.
Independent audit firm
The Ghana Football Association was previously audited by auditors from government, but the adopted statutes have mandated the GFA to be audited by an independent audit firm such as KPMG, Price Waterhouse Coopers, etc.
Composition of congress reduced
The congress of the Ghana Football Association is the highest decision-making body of the GFA.
The GFA congress comprises representatives from all its constituent bodies namely Premier League clubs, Division One League clubs, Regional Football Association (GFA), etc.
The old statutes made room for 123 members to attend the congress, while the new statutes which have been adopted have reduced it to 120 members.
Women representation
Women had no representation in the old statutes of the GFA, i.e the Women’s League Clubs. But women can now rejoice after congress adopted the new statutes of the GFA.
Women League clubs will have an automatic one slot on the Executive Council of the GFA and also have four representatives at congress which is a step forward from the old statutes.
Executive Committee renamed Executive Council
The Ghana Football Association board which was called the Executive Committee has had a change of name. It is now called Executive Council.
Reduction in the size of the Executive Council
The Executive Council of the Ghana Football Association which is the board of the association had 23 representatives, but the new statutes have reduced the size to 12 members in conformity with corporate governance.
However, it was agreed to be increased from 12 to 15 if it is permitted by law.
New constituent members have been admitted to the GFA
The new statutes of the GFA have included new constituent bodies as members of the Ghana Football Association (GFA)
Some of the new members are Beach Soccer Association, Referee Association of Ghana (RAG), Professional Footballers Association of Ghana (PFAG), etc.