The body fighting for the welfare of football clubs in Ghana has reported the country’s government to FIFA over the $11.4m gained from the 2010 World Cup money but the Ghana FA has asked GHALCA to thread with caution.
FIFA has received a letter calling for action against the Ghana government
The body fighting for the welfare of football clubs in Ghana has reported the country’s government to FIFA over the $11.4m gained from the 2010 World Cup money but the Ghana FA has asked GHALCA to tread with caution.
The Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) asked FIFA to intervene and collect all the monies government took from the GFA after the Black Stars earned the amount following their excellent showing in the tournament in South Africa.
GHALCA said in its letter to FIFA dated February 24, 2014 and signed by its Chairman Alhaji Ali Raji that unless the Switzerland-based body intervenes football will suffer a similar fate after the 2014 World Cup.
“As the body that represents the collective interest of all League Clubs in Ghana, we would like to bring to your attention the refusal of Ghana Government to release monies earned by the Ghana National Football Team from their participation in the 2010 World Cup held in South Africa,” GHALCA wrote in its letter to FIFA.
“By a Ministerial advice from the then Minister of Youth and Sports, the Ghana Government directed the Ghana Football Association to pay all the Eleven Million Dollars plus in the Consolidated Account of the Ghana Government and the Ghana Football Association has been precluded from using the money for football development in the country as directed by FIFA.
“We therefore want to inform FIFA by this letter of the Ghana Government’s unilateral decision to appropriate the amount and refusal to release to the Ghana Football Association same.
“We believe the same would happen to the Football Association after Brazil 2014 World Cup, unless FIFA takes the appropriate action to prevent a recurrence when the National Team from the Brazil 2014 World Cup.” it ended.
But the GFA says dialogue must be used to engage government rather reporting the country to the world governing body, stressing football will strain its relationship the authorities in the country through such action.
“Officially, we’re not aware of any such development. I think that it’s important that we in football create a good relationship with government who play a major role in football in the country,” he said on Accra-based Power FM.
“It’s important that we speak rather than seek petition from somewhere because if we go to those places and come back, what relationship do we leave at home where you permanently stay?
“I think that we should find ways of engaging government locally and we’ll be able to get a good conclusion rather than going to FIFA,” he added.
The GHALCA letter to FIFA comes at the wrong time as the GFA tries to negotiate World Cup budget with government for the competition in Brazil in June.