The Ghana Football Association (GFA), has announced its decision to fine persons who are found guilty of match-fixing and match betting in Ghanaian football.
As part of measures to clamp down the betting canker and match-fixing hitting the sport, the FA says it will fine anyone caught an amount of GH₵5,000 and a ban for one year.
The caution, according to the GFA, does not only apply to players but to all persons including officials of the FA, club officials, match officials, and ball boys among others.
“The Executive Council at their meeting noted that match manipulations and betting by people in football requires a multifaceted approach to deal with – hence the cautious, pragmatic, exhaustive and painstaking approach.
“As organizers of the Premier, Division One, and Women’s Premier League the Ghana Football Association takes responsibility for the successful organization of the League,” a GFA statement said.
The move, it added, would ensure that the competition is clean, fair, credible, and free from any dent that may cause disaffection for the product.
While admitting that match manipulation cases across the globe require effort, the statement urged the “GFA judicial bodies to dedicate more time and urgency to ensure that such cases are speedily adjudicated.”
The statement also concluded that persons who provide information on attempts to manipulate matches will be given GH₵50,000 as a reward to combat the menace.
“The reward package is in addition to other plans, mechanisms, and investigations currently ongoing to protect the sanctity and integrity of the game,” the statement added.
