44 Fight for 21 ExCo seats

Top club executives look poised to challenge each other for the six Premier League slots on the Executive Committee of the Ghana Football Association when the polls are held the month, September 28.

A similar fierce battle is anticipated in the Division One League (DOL) where some football hweavyweights are contesting,  as well as at the Regional Chairmanship level as 11 people had filed to vie for the four DOL slots, while only three Regional Football Association (RFA) chairmen are vying unopposed.

At the close of nominations last Wednesday, as many as seven chief executives as well as four other prominent, club officials, had successfully filed their nominations to contest. 

The fight for the six Premier League slots will be a direct contest among gurus such  as Nanabayin Eyison of Sekondi Hasaacas, Frank Nelson Nkowolo of Accra Hearts of Oak,  Samuel Opoku Nti, the General Manager of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Kudjoe Fianoo (Ashgold), Albert Commey (Aduana) and Kingsley Osei Bonsu alias Lord Zico (Bechem United).

George Afriyie, a member of the Emergency Committee, remains in the contest, this time representing Liberty Professionals, a situation that has compelled the club’s chief executive, Felix Ansong, who ran on that ticket during the last election, not to seek re-election. Kudjoe Fianoo, the chief executive of  Ashantigold Football club, also remains in the competition.

With Randy Abbey and Fred Pappoe opting out of the contest, new faces -- Fred Acheampong (New Edubiase), Delali Eric Senayah (Inter Allies)  and Emmanuel Larbi Amoah, popular known as Barbados, the popularly lawyer has also filed on the ticket of Medeama FC, ostensibly to replace Moses ‘Packa’ Armah who is also not contesting -- have joined the fray to become ExCo members.

The DOL will witness an equally uncomprosing encounter as the heavyweights again clash. The vice-president of the GFA, Fred Crentsil, who stood and won on the ticket of Hearts during the last election, will now contest on the ticket of Techiman City FC, just as Wilfred Kwaku Osei (Tema Youth)  and Kweku Eyiah (Tarkwa United).

They will be challenged for the four seats by Kurt Okraku, former administrative manager of the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) and now President of Dreams FC, Jones Alhassan Abu, a long serving official of Real Tamale United,  J.F. Mensah (Dwarfs) as well as Oluboi Commodore, vying on the ticket of Sporting Mirren.

Kofi Poku (D'International), Ronald Jojo Duncan (Proud United), Ebo Kobina Appiah (KFC Samosa) and Barima Otuo Acheampong, popularly known as 'Sometimer,' have all filed to contest.

Leanier Addy will be challenged by Madam Habiba Attah for the single slot for the Constituent Bodies, made up of the Referees Association of Ghana (RAG), Women's Football, Coaches Association, Schools and Colleges, Ghana Universities Sports Association (GUSA), the Security Services Sports Association (SESSA) and the Retired Footballers Association.

In the RFA chairmanship contest, apart from Lawal Abdul Ganiyu (Eastern), Osei Tutu Agyemang (Ashanti) and Alhaji Daudi Sadugu Yahaya (Upper West), who are going unopposed, all the others are being challenged.

Three chairmen, Kojo Yankah (Western Region), Adam Munkaila Nassam (Northern) and Nii Kormiete Doku (Greater Accra) have had two other contenders filing to challenge them, while the others have only one challenger.

Though they have successfully filed their nominations, they will now have to pass the vetting by the Election Committee, headed by R.O Solomon, before they can finally compete.

Among the key things the committee will be looking at are if the contestants have the clear endorsement of the constituencies they have filed to represent, as well as if they have served those constituencies for at least two years.

The vetting ends on September 9, when the EC submits its report with those affected getting the chance to launch an appeal on September 14 before the elections on September 28.