Former Vice President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), George Kwesi Afriyie, has formally pleaded not guilty to charges of improper conduct.
The charges, filed by the GFA, relate to comments he made in a recent interview on Kessben TV, where he discussed controversial issues surrounding the Ghana Premier League, particularly the governance and alleged manipulation within Ghanaian football.
In his official response, Afriyie, who is also affiliated with Akim Tafo Susubiribi SC, stated that his comments were taken out of context.
He argued that his remarks were part of a broader discussion on pressing issues affecting the league and Ghanaian football and were not intended to constitute improper conduct.
“I therefore plead NOT GUILTY to the charge of improper conduct,” Afriyie stated.
He added that, “I strongly assert that your charges were taken out of context, misinterpreted, and do not constitute improper conduct based on the following;
“The Ghana premier league over a period have witnessed some allegation in respect of match manipulation and match fixing which raises a lot of concerns to persons who invest in football. As a stakeholder match-fixing allegations are a public concern, warranting open discussion.”
To substantiate his stance, the former Black Stars management committee highlighted past incidents in the Ghana Premier League that, he argued, pointed to systemic issues and warranted open discussion.
He also cited two examples as evidence of the GFA’s failure to address alleged match manipulation:
Medeama SC vs King Faisal (2021/22 Season):
Afriyie recalled a controversial penalty decision in favour of Medeama SC during this game. The incident, which occurred outside the penalty area, led to the suspension of referee Misbaw Mohammed and Assistant Referee Kenneth Tweneboah-Kodua after they admitted their error. Afriyie argued that this instance of poor officiating had impacted the game’s outcome and demonstrated the need for stricter oversight.
Accra Hearts of Oak vs Real Tamale United (2022/23 Season):
Afriyie also pointed to a disallowed goal by Assistant Referee Patrick Papala that denied Hearts of Oak a point in a crucial match. Papala was later suspended for his decision, which Afriyie suggested indicated a failure in officiating standards and contributed to an atmosphere of suspicion around match outcomes.
Concerns over selective prosecution
Afriyie’s response included concerns about selective prosecution, arguing that similar comments made by others had gone unaddressed, creating an impression of bias within the disciplinary process.
“The lack of response by the GFA on the above issues is testament that the GFA agrees that the league is manipulated. If the FA had a contrary view on the comments made, it would have taken steps to investigate it,” he stated.
Call for a fair hearing
Concluding his response, he requested a fair and impartial hearing, asserting his respect for the GFA’s role in maintaining integrity within Ghanaian football.
He underscored his dedication to improving football standards and accountability in Ghana, highlighting the importance of addressing the issues he raised rather than prosecuting individual comments.