GFA raid: Why the EOCC did a great job!

News that Ghana's Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) has raided the offices of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), in a typical show of ' if persuasion fails, force is applied', is the most popular in the country today.

The EOCO operatives who claim to be investigating financial inconsistencies related to certain sponsorship deals the G.F.A signed with some corporate organisations, carried away documents and computers from offices of the GFA

On air and online, on the subs and in the pubs, in the market places and in the workplaces, soccer-loving Ghanaian fans are enthusiastically debating the rationality of the E.O.C.O's actions.

Many fans have expressed their dissatisfaction and indignation at the EOCO for what they describe as 'unnecessary interference' in the activities of the GFA.

Some have categorically blamed the government for witch-hunting certain members of the GFA who are believed to be members of the opposition New Patriotic Party.

Others have simply said that the action of the E.O.C.O on Tuesday, was inconsistent with F.I.F.A's policy of governmental non-interference in the affairs of Football Associations.

As football loving Ghanaians, it's important that we analyse this issue within the context of prevailing circumstances:

First, FIFA's call for government not to interfere in the activities of the GFA is neither here nor there. 'Interference' in FIFA's context is a vague term which is difficult to understand. For instance, anytime government gives money to the G.F.A to finance the activities of the national teams, FIFA and the GFA see that as 'supporting the FA'; however, rather incomprehensibly, when government directs the GFA to account for the monies given them, it ( government) is aptly accused of 'interfering in the affairs of the GFA'.

Though FIFA has recently recognized the right of government to demand accountability from the GFA in relation to the monies it (government) expends on the national teams, the football's governing body still prohibits government from auditing monies the G.F.A derives from other sources, such as corporate sponsorships.

In the opinion of this writer, the foregoing position of FIFA is unfortunate and ridiculous for the following reasons:

First, the national teams such as the Black Stars, Black Satellites and Black Queens belong to Ghanaians, and so is every dime that corporate organisations pay to support them. The monies sponsors like Goldfields Ghana, Glo mobile Ghana, Guiness Ghana, Ricemaster's and so on pay to sponsor our national teams belong neither to FIFA nor the GFA. The monies belong to Ghanaians, and because individuals cannot go to demand accountability from the FA anytime there are suspicions of irregularities or financial malfeasance, it is only proper that independent institutions such as the EOCO do that on our behalf.

I, for one, cannot go to the GFA headquarters to say 'let me have a look at the financial records. How did you spend the money Goldfields Ghana gave to the Black Stars?' This is impossible! I may even end up being slapped, eventhough it's my right as a Ghanaian to know how some of these monies are spent.

We ought to acknowledge, that corporate organizations do not sponsor our national teams because they like the GFA; they do so to derive some goodwill from Ghanaians. Corporate organisations know, that if they financially support the Black Stars, for instance, Ghanaians will reciprocate their benevolent gesture by purchasing their goods and patronizing their services. The monies they spend on our national teams, therefore, belong to Ghanaians who own those national teams; and it is the responsibility of government to demand accountability on behalf of Ghanaians.

We must make the position clear to FIFA that government reserves the exclusive right to hold the FA accountable for every dollar they (GFA) receive on behalf of our national teams, whether by way of corporate sponsorship or government subventions. This is a responsibility to which government cannot close its eyes.

It would be unacceptably naive on our part, as Ghanaians, to allow the GFA expend our monies without proper rendition of accounts, just because F.I.F.A says 'no interference'. It should be stated clearly, that the policies and rules of FIFA are subordinate to the laws of this country. Under Ghana laws, the GFA is obligated to account for all public monies in their possession. This is an imperative, irrespective of FIFA's position on the issue.

The only monies the GFA doesn't need to account, are sponsorship monies meant for Premier League clubs. So, for instance, if Glo mobile sponsors the Premier League to the tune of say, three million dollars, government has no right to demand accountability for the FA on how that money is used. This is basically because all 16 clubs in the league are privately owned and the F.A accounts to those clubs rather than to government.

It ought to be recognized, that the action of the EOCO at the G.F.A headquarters was lawful, appropriate, rational and absolutely justifiable. It's is a step in the right direction.This writer is of the opinion that the EOCO would not have resorted to physical force if the GFA had responded to their invitation (EOCO's) to answer some questions. One FA official is reported to have remarked that the FA is not accountable to the EOCO. This probably explains why the EOCO's response was so decisive. Knowing that they had nothing to hide, the GFA should have respected the EOCO's demand that they answer some questions.

It is shocking that people think the GFA should not be investigated even when they are suspected of financial crimes such as tax evasion. Is it wrong for anti-corruption bodies to investigate organisations they suspect of breaking the laws of this country? No I don't think so, because even FIFA themselves are being investigated by the the Swiss authorities. Even in England also the government has called for a SHAKE-UP of the FA According to the Graphic Sports, ''it is understood that the Prime Minister will also be liaising with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Secretary of State, Jeremy Hunt, and Robertson about setting up a committee to INVESTIGATE the F.A.''

Then it goes on to say: ''We are going to be looking at the whole issue of football governance... they will be asked to come up with recommendations and the FA will be expected to agree to them or they could face financial sanctions.''

Yes, that's what the English government has emphatically and categorically stated.

If this can happen in England, the home of football, with FIFA keeping shut, why can't it happen in Ghana?

The EOCO's message on Tuesday afternoon was consistent and clear:

'No individual or organisation is immune to accountability, where public money is involved. The days of such immunity are over.'

In conclusion, I do not believe that FIFA will ban Ghana for demanding accountability from the FA; those who are enthusiastically expecting a ban should brace up psychologically and physically for disappointment.

If FIFA truly wants government to stop 'interfering' in the affairs of the FA, they must take concrete steps to help the FA wean itself off government subventions.

In the meantime, the government of Ghana has a mandate to hold public officers, including F.A officials, accountable to the people of Ghana at all times; this mandate does bend to accommodate 'strange policies' of third-party organizations such as FIFA!

Samuel K. Obour
[email protected]