George Afriyie accepts CAS verdict

Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) Vice President George Afriyie has expressed acceptance of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)’s decision upholding his disqualification from the 2023 GFA presidential race.

According to Afriyie, “I have today received the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) regarding my appeal against the Decision of the Elections Committee of the Ghana Football Association (GFA).

“The CAS, in their decision, has upheld the decision of the Elections Committee of the GFA.

I take the decision in good faith.

I express my sincere gratitude to everyone who supported me during this period.”

Initially disqualified due to insufficient endorsements from GFA members, the Elections Committee found issues with Afriyie’s submitted paperwork, citing the involvement of an unauthorized endorser, identified as Jeffrey Asare, whose claim of being a Director at Victory Club Warriors FC turned out to be false.

Although Afriyie filed an appeal seeking to reverse the decision, hope dwindled once the appeal was denied, prompting him to submit the case to CAS for resolution.

As a consequence of Afriyie’s disqualification, incumbent GFA President Kurt Okraku faced no opposition and secured a second term via an overwhelming victory.

With the confirmation of the CAS decision, the contentious issue first raised in September 2023 can now be laid to rest.