Appeals Committee declares Mawutor Agbavitor as eligible to contest Volta Regional FA elections

The Appeals Committee has declared Mr. Mawutor Agbavitor as eligible to contest the upcoming Volta Regional Football Association Chairmanship elections.

Incumbent Mr. Francis Dogbatse filed an appeal against the Elections Committee's decision to clear Mr. Agbavitor to contest the RFA elections.

The Volta Regional FA Chairmanship elections has been scheduled for Monday 12th October,2015.

Below is the full decision of the Appeals Committee:

1. ALHAJI FAROUCK SEIDU – VICE CHAIRMAN
2. OWUSU ANSAH AWERE – MEMBER
3. CLAUDE OPPON – MEMBER
4. DIVINE SUNU – MEMBER
5. KWAME TAKYI – MEMBER
6. DANIEL ODURO – SECRETARY
This is an appeal by Mr. Francis Dogbatse against the decision of the Elections Committee of the FA dated 11/09/15. The appellant, Mr. Francis Dogbatse is the incumbent Chairperson of the Volta Regional Football Association and is seeking re-election to the position. His only contestant is one Mr. Mawutor Agbavitor who like the appellant was vetted by the Elections Committee and cleared to contest. It is this decision or recommendation by the Elections Committee that Mr. Dogbatse was dissatisfied with and filed the instant appeal.

His grounds are that:
a) Some of the clubs that endorsed Mr. Agbavitor's nomination form were not affliated to the RFA

b) Some of the clubs that endorsed his nomination form did not participate in the league

c) Mr. Agbavitor at all material times did not associate with a club for at least 2 years in accordance with article 6 of the Elections Regulations. In the circumstances, the appellant prayed this Committee to declare that Mr. Mawutor Agbavitor is unqualified to contest the forthcoming elections.

It is worth mentioning that in the Notice of Appeal filed by Mr. Dogbatse, there was no indictation of the clubs that endorsed the form of Mr. Agbavitor but were not affiliated to the RFA, however, in his reply he named clubs like Ridgers FC, Royal Angels FC, Honuta NTL SC, De-Youngsters FC, Kodaf FC, Nature FC and God is wonderful FC as clubs which even though are affiliated to the RFA yet never participated in the league and therefore were not qualified to endorse Mr. Agbavitor's nomination form.

We have considered carefully the processes and documents filed by the appellant and wish to say rather sadly that he woefully failed to demonstrate that indeed some of the clubs that endorsed the forms of Mr. Agbavitor were not affiliated to the RFA. Because the appellant failed to show that the clubs that endorsed the nomination form of Mr. Agbavitor were not affiliated to the RFA, we shall refrain from discussing the effect or otherwise of the said non-affiliation.

In the case of non-participation, we wish to say that the elections regulations do not disqualify clubs that are affiliated to the RFA but failed to participate in the league from endorsing or nominating a candidate. Article 6(1) of the Elections Regulations on Nominations and Supporting candidates disqualifies only clubs that have been suspended by the Association, CAF, WAFU or FIFA. Our attention has not been drawn to suspension of any of the clubs mentioned by the appellant. In the circumstances, we shall give Mr. Mawutor Agbavitor the benefit of the doubt.

Again, the appellant accused Mr. Agbavitor of not satisfying article 6(1) of the Elections Regulations, that is to say, he is not a senior official of any member of the RFA who has been associated with the member for at least 2 years.

According to the appellant, it is not true that Mr. Agbavitor is a senior official of Predators FC and also has not associated with the club for at least 2 years. He attached to his notice of appeal a club officials registration form which form unfortunately did not indicate the year or season in question. That form has one Mr. Emmanuel Nana Kwame as the Chairman and therefore as far as the records of the RFA are concerned, Mr. Agbavitor could not be the Chairman of the club.

Mr. Agbavitor in a swift reaction to the statement of case filed a response and pointed to a copy of another officials declarations form for the year 2013/14 which has himself as the Chairman of Predators FC. He further explained that Emmanuel Nana Kwame has since ceased to be the chairman of the club. According to him, he assumed the chairmanship as well as main financier of the club since the year 2011.

We have considered the arguments of both Mr. Dogbatse and Mr. Agbavitor concerning the facts of Mr. Agbavitor's association with Predator's FC for at least 2 years and has to come to the conclusion that we have no good reason to tamper with the recommendation or decision of the Elections Committee on that issue. In the circumstances we hereby dismiss the appeal. Mr. Agbavitor is therefore qualified or eligible to contest the forthcoming elections for the position of the chairperson of the Volta Regional Football Association.

DATED IN ACCRA THIS 8TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2015
SIGNED: ALHAJI FAROUCK SEIDU(VICE CHAIRMAN)