A club in the Division One League (DOL), King Faisal, has submitted a legal petition to the Accra High Court aiming to halt the 2023 Ghana Football Association (GFA) Elective Congress, which is originally scheduled for September 27th in Tamale.
Consequently, the GFA has chosen to suspend the election timetable until the court addresses the legal matter, in order to avoid any potential contempt of court.
According to the filed petition, King Faisal’s argument rests on their interpretation of the GFA statute’s Article 30, 31, 32(2)(q), and 37(1).
They contend that a legitimate Congress cannot take place to elect a national president for the association unless new representatives for the Executive Council have been appropriately elected or designated.
Furthermore, King Faisal asserts that initiating the nomination process for the election of a new national president before conducting elections for Executive Council representatives is both incorrect and illegal.
The petition goes on to emphasize that in accordance with Article 37(1) of the GFA Statutes 2019, the creators of the statutes envisioned a scenario where representatives from the various constituent bodies would participate in electing the overall president, thereby forming the National Executive Council afterward.
This approach aligns with established practices globally.
As a remedy, King Faisal is seeking a court injunction to prevent the GFA from proceeding unless and until proper elections are carried out for representatives from National League Clubs, regional football associations, and other constituent bodies.
The GFA has issued a response via its official website, announcing the suspension of the 2023 GFA Election Timetable due to a motion filed by King Faisal FC in the high court.
The GFA has informed its members, stakeholders, and those who have submitted nomination forms for various positions about the postponement of the 2023 GFA Elections process.
The suspension will remain in place until the court hears the motion on August 30th, 2023. The statement reassures members, clubs, and applicants that the association is actively seeking legal resolution to ensure a prompt return to the 2023 Election Timetable, with the aim of minimizing disruptions to the calendar.