KEY POINTS
- Afriyie calls for transparent discussion on match-fixing in Ghana.
- Former Ghana FA vice president cites concerns over selective prosecution.
- He demands fair hearing and highlights issues in Ghana Premier League.
George Kwesi Afriyie, the former vice president of the Ghana Football Association, entered a not guilty plea to a charge of improper conduct brought by the GFA. The accusation is based on remarks made by Afriyie during an interview on Kessben TV about contentious topics related to the Ghana Premier League, specifically governance and purported manipulation in Ghanaian football.
Afriyie’s defense on match-fixing allegations
In his answer, Afriyie, who is also associated with Akim Tafo Susubiribi SC, said that his comments were misconstrued.
He said that his remarks were not meant to be considered inappropriate behaviour and were instead a part of a larger discussion on important topics impacting the league.
Afriyie said, “Therefore, I entered a not guilty plea to the charge of improper conduct.” He went on to say, “I firmly believe that your accusations were misconstrued, taken out of context, and do not amount to improper conduct because of the following:
“Stakeholders who invest in football are concerned after charges of match manipulation and match-fixing surfaced in the Ghana Premier League. As a stakeholder, I think these claims are public and should be discussed openly.
Myjoyonline stated that Afriyie used previous league incidents to back up his claim that they brought attention to structural problems that require attention.
He brought up a contentious Medeama SC penalty that was given beyond the penalty area. After acknowledging their mistakes, referee Misbaw Mohammed and assistant referee Kenneth Tweneboah-Kodua were subsequently suspended. Afriyie maintained that this officiating incident affected the result of the game and highlighted the necessity of more stringent regulation.
Afriyie demands fair hearing and transparency in GFA
Additionally, he cited Assistant Referee Patrick Papala’s goal disallowed, which cost Hearts of Oak a point in a crucial game. Papala later received a suspension for the decision, which Afriyie claimed demonstrated inconsistent officiating standards and added to the mistrust around match results.
Myjoyonline also stated that Afriyie voiced concerns about selective prosecution, saying that the disciplinary process appeared biased because similar remarks made by others had gone unanswered.
“The GFA has acknowledged that the league is manipulated, as seen by its lack of response on the aforementioned issues. The FA would have taken action to look into the matter if it had a different opinion, Afriyie said.
In closing, Afriyie said he respected the GFA’s duty in upholding integrity in Ghanaian football and asked for a fair and unbiased hearing. He underlined his dedication to raising football standards and responsibility in Ghana, emphasising that resolving these problems is more important than pursuing specific remarks.
