GFA rubbishes police allegation of improper land sale

Accra, Mar. 9, GNA - The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has rubbished police allegation that it has sold state land describing the report as inaccurate, wicked and malicious intended to dent the reputation of the association.

"We are very responsible institution, which we think before taking a decision", Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, Chairman of the GFA told a press conference in Accra to correct the apparent erroneous impression that sought to describe the FA as a reckless institution.

The Police said on Tuesday they were investigating the sale of state land at Cantonment in Accra by the GFA to a private developer, Mr Yaw Brakohiapa at an alleged cost of 100,000 dollars.

The land, is alleged to have been allocated to the National Identification Authority (NIA) to build its offices but was allegedly sold to Mr Brakohiapa although he did not have the appropriate permit.

But Dr Nyaho-Tamakleo said the GFA bought the property, Plot Six, Giffard Road, East Cantonments in Accra in 1998 to build a condominium of flats to accommodate its guests who visit Ghana to attend competitions, conferences and tournaments.

He said the GFA subsequently, applied to the Divestiture Implementation Committee (DIC) for the purchase of one of the former State Insurance Corporation (SCC) divested properties in Accra.

"After discussions, the DIC sold the plot to the GFA for 40,000 US dollars. The DIC was kind to spread the payment of the purchase up to the year 2000, which the GFA consequently obliged".

The GFA Chairman said after payment, the DIC and the GFA executed sales and purchase agreement by a letter on August 1, 2000, and accordingly, advised its financial adviser Merchant Bank to handover the property to the association.

He said after obtaining the agreement, the DIC requested the GFA to contact the Lands Commission for a lease on the property.

"After the payment of the relevant ground rent to the Lands Commission, we were finally given a 50-year lease in 2003", Nyaho-Tamakloe said.

He said the GFA's decision to sell the property was informed by the fact that it did not have immediate plans to develop the land since its activities had grown beyond the size of the land.

"We needed a bigger space for our offices hence decided to sell the Cantonment property for 80,000 US dollars. After the sale we accordingly executed "a deed of assignment" on November 2, 2004 in favour of the developer in accordance with clause 2(i) of the lease we applied to the Lands Commission for a consent to assign".

He said there was nothing criminal about what the GFA has done as every holder of a lease interest can always sell his or her own interest at anytime.

Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe expressed regret that Professor Ernest Dumor, Chairman of the NIA, ill advised the Chief Staff to believe that the GFA did not have the right to sell the property.

Chief Superintendent John Agboado told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra on Sunday that the chairman of the NIA reported to the Police that a land allocated to the Authority had been taken over by a private developer.

Mr Agboado said following the complaint it was discovered that the land had been sold to Mr Brakohiapa, a resident of the Airport Residential Area in Accra, who had given it to a construction firm to be developed.

He explained that the land was given to the GFA in 1998 to put up offices but when it failed to do so, it was reallocated to the NIA.