The Aboakese are preparing to enter another legal battle with the country’s football governing body following its decision not to sanction the sale of last season’s Premier League topscorer
Ashanti Gold are on the verge of entering another legal tussle with Ghana Football Association few weeks after successfully placing an injunction on 2022/23 Ghana Premier League season, AshesGyamera.com can report.
The Obuasi-based club’s top hierarchy, who are already challenging what they term as ‘unfair’ demotion from Ghana’s top flight to the third tier despite initially being found guilty of match-fixing, believe they are being sabotaged after the sale of former striker Yaw Annor to Egyptian club Ismaily was not sanctioned by the Football Association.
Annor, who won Ghana Premier League goal king last season after netting 22 goals, signed a reported five-year deal with Ismaily on July 5 under the supervision of AshantiGold bankroller Kwaku Frimpong.
However, after Ismaily officially wrote to Ghana FA for International Transfer Certificate (ITC) to register Annor for the new season, their request was turned down citing ‘other reason.’
Ghana FA interestingly gave a remark that Annor can only be registered as a FREE AGENT since “the club AshantiGold has been suspended by the GFA and therefore cannot transfer players.”
“The player can therefore be registered as a FREE PLAYER by your club,” the remark added.
This implies that Ashanti Gold do not have the right to sell the player to Ismaily and will not officially receive any transfer fee neither will they also have any percentage of a potential onward transfer should Annor leaves Ismaily one day.
Moreover, Ghana FA will not receive the mandated ten per cent from the initial total transfer fee to Ashanti Gold and that decision has gotten Dr. Kwaku Frimpong and his management infuriated and have threatened to test the law once again.
It will be recalled that Ashanti Gold were demoted to third tier (second division) on May 16 after they were found guilty of playing match of convenience against Inter Allies during 2020/21 Ghana Premier League season.
Ashanti Gold thrashed Inter Allies 7-0 with defender Hasmin Musa scoring two own goals in the process. After the game, Musa revealed that he scored the own goals to destroy a correct scoreline that was arranged ahead of kick off.
The club president Dr. Kwaku Frimpong was charged for breaching Article 27(1)(2) of the GFA Code of Ethics 2019; Article 18(1) of the GFA Disciplinary
Code, 2019, and Article 34(5)(a)(b) of the GFA Premier League Regulations 2019 and later found guilty, fined $13,000 and banned from football and it related activities for ten years.
However, Ashanti Gold were allowed to complete the previous season since the entire decision was expected to take effect from the start of 2022/23 football season.
After only three matches into the new season, the Premier League was halted as Ashanti Gold filed an injunction at Accra’s Human Rights Court arguing that the Ghana FA’s decision to demote the club had infringed its rights as they were denied the proceedings used to rule against them.
The case has been adjourned to October 20 and the judge is expected to enter into the matter deeply as a hearing is expected to take place.