George Afriyie to turn to Court of Arbitration for Sports after disqualification

Following the 2023 Ghana Football Association (GFA) Elections Appeals Committee’s decision to uphold George Afriyie’s disqualification from contesting the (GFA) Presidential elections.

Lawyer for the former Vice President, Esq. Richmond Numbo Saaka has confirmed to Citi Sports they will head to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and the National Independent Tribunal for a final recourse.

This year’s GFA Presidential race was originally shaped to be a two-way contest between Afriyie and incumbent GFA President Kurt Okraku.

However, with Afriyie’s disqualification upheld by the Appeals Committee, Okraku is on the verge of running unopposed if the election proceeds as scheduled.

Speaking in an interview, Esq. Richmond Numbo Saaka stated his client is ready to exploit all other options to seek redress on the matter.

I have instructions from the client [George Afriyie], the instructions is based on the advice he has been given and the advice is informed by the very same GFA Statues and regulations.

The statues and regulations say that you can file an appeal, if you are not happy with a certain decision and then you can head to the Court of Arbitration for Sports or the National Independent Arbitration Tribunal to deal with (an) appeal that arise.

So we believe that, per the rules of the GFA, these are available options, we will head to the Court of Arbitration for Sports or engage the National Independent Arbitration Tribunal to help us appeal the decision of the Appeals Committee of the Ghana Football Association, because that is what the statues of the FA provides.

The election, originally slated for September 27, faces further uncertainty due to a court injunction filed by King Faisal.

Prior to the 2019 election, disqualified Presidential candidate Kwaku Osei Palmer petitioned CAS but was unsuccessful as the world body upheld his disqualification.

Okraku won the election with George Afriyie finishing in second place.