Richmond Saaka, the lawyer representing disqualified Ghana Football Association (GFA) Presidential candidate George Afriyie, has criticized the 2023 GFA Elections, labeling them as unjustified and contemptuous.
In an exclusive interview with Citi Sports following the elections on October 5, which saw incumbent GFA President Kurt Okraku reelected for another four-year term, Saaka expressed his concerns.
Legal processes initiated by George Afriyie and King Faisal FC owner Alhaji Karim Grusah had indicated that the elections should be halted until a court hearing on October 12. However, the elections proceeded as scheduled, resulting in the election of members to the GFA Executive Council from the Ghana Premier League, Division One League, and Women’s Premier League.
George Afriyie’s camp took issue with this and Saaka went on to describe the elections as contemptuous.
He stated, “We believe that it (GFA Elections) was unjustified and contemptuous. Clearly, at the time the elections was being held, the GFA knew that an action had been commenced by George Kwasi Afriyie against the conduct of that election and we believed that in accordance with the very same expression by the Association’s statutes, they would have respected the rights of George Kwasi Afriyie as far as his action against the Association was concerned.”
Saaka further mentioned that they are assessing their options and awaiting instructions from George Kwasi Afriyie regarding their next steps.
“So we are advising ourselves and given to George Kwasi Afriyie the necessary advise…in order for him to instruct us on the next course to be taken.”