GFA Will Drag Capital Bank To Court - Oku

The Chairman of Premier League Board (PLB), Ashford Tetteh Oku, has hinted that the Ghana Football Association (GFA) is in the process of dragging the Capital Bank (formerly First Capital Plus Bank) to court over a breach of contract.

He said after the bank unilaterally terminated its five-year sponsorship deal with the Premier League, the GFA has been left with no other option than to proceed to court to have the case settled.

Last year, the management of the Capital Bank suspended its sponsorship

of the league, citing internal restructuring as the main reason.

However, many months after its rebranding process was completed, the bank was yet to inform organisers of the league about its desire to resume the sponsorship package or abrogate it.

”In any signed contract, there are provisions for issues of grievances and legalities, so if the first round of the league has ended and there is still nothing concrete about the sponsorship, then the final destination of the case will be the courts. The GFA has a legal board, so they will decide what to do next,” Mr Tettey-Oku told the Graphic Sports yesterday.

He hinted also that the FA had initiated a few processes towards securing a title sponsor for the league and, therefore, appealed to the Premier League club administrators to remain calm while the issue was being resolved.

“Securing a sponsor for the league is not easy, it is a process. And I know the FA has started a process to get a headline sponsor in the shortest possible time, if not for this league, at least for subsequent ones,” the PLB chairman explained.

He mentioned media hype, preseason seminars for coaches, referees, consistency in fixtures, spectators, equal spread of talent across all 16 clubs, quality goals among others as factors that made the first round of the year league competitive and attractive.

 Source: graphic.com.gh

GFA Will Drag Capital Bank To Court - Oku

Lets Meet In Court - GFA Tells Capital Bank

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has planned to take legal action against First Capital Plus Bank now Capital Bank for breach of contract.

The financial institution which signed a five-year sponsorship agreement with the Ghana FA as headline sponsor of the Premier League, suspended their sponsorship responsibilities.

They claim their decision to back off from their relationship with the domestic league was due internal restructuring.

The FA mincing no words stated categorically clear that the ‘suspension’ of sponsorship responsibilities is alien to the contract signed, but were hopeful that the Bank will resume their responsibilities after rebranding.

However, the financial institution has refused attempts from the FA for a showdown talks, and the football governing body says they intend to meet them in Court to trash out the issue.

Lets Meet In Court - GFA Tells Capital Bank

What Is GPL Clubs Doing To Help Themselves? - Isaac Koomson

Vice chairman of the Ghana League Clubs Association, Isaac Koomson has asked the Ghana Premier League Clubs what they are doing to ensure they are well branded to attract corporate companies to sponsor them.

The Ghana Premier League will commence on February 20 without a headline sponsor after First Capital Plus Bank reneged from their commitment with the FA signed about 2 years ago.

Premier League clubs are complaining the financial difficulties they encounter on weekly basis will be compounded should the FA not provide a sponsor to abridge the financial burden.

But Isaac Koomson who is rumoured to be interested in vying for the GHALCA chairmanship position with his boss Alhaji Raji, has asked the clubs the efforts they are making to give themselves alternative should the FA not land any deal for the league soon.

“Super Sport is on board as the headline sponsor for the coverage of the league, but we appreciate the fact that the FA should provide a headline sponsor,” Isaac Koomson told sportscrusader.com

“But apart from the FA getting a corporate body to sponsor the league, the question I always ask my colleagues is that,’what are they doing as an alternative to raise funds?’

“What image has the clubs created  to attract sponsors? Churches brand themselves with their logos on bands, bands, handkerchiefs, and make money out it and make money whilst also spreading their name to the public.

‘Can’t the clubs do same to make money and to be self sufficient whilst also making themselves popular? These are things we can do and we must take advantage of that.” He noted.

The Ghana Premier League will start on February 20 and the FA according to Mr. Koomson is close to securing a sponsor.

What Is GPL Clubs Doing To Help Themselves? - Isaac Koomson

Litigations Pushed Away GPL Potential Sponsors - GFA Veep

The Ghana Football Association has blamed the litigations which engulfed Ghana club football and has delayed the start of the Ghana Premier League as the reason why the league is likely to start without a sponsor.

The Ghana Football Association signed a 5-year sponsorship agreement with financial institution, First Capital Plus Bank now Capital Bank.

But just two years into the deal, the bank wrote to the football governing body suspending their sponsorship responsibilities.

The FA is persuading the bank not to renege their commitment, but is also working on replacing or partnering Capital Bank with other corporate bodies.

But they are finding challenges to convince corporate entities to come on board as sponsors.

“The truth is that this issue of litigation and wranglings within the clubs and judicial issues is actually affecting sponsorship,” George Afriyie, vice president of the Ghana Football Association lamented in an interview with  Accr-based radio, Joy FM.

“I can tell you that within last month and the early part of this month, we were in talks with some potential sponsors, but as soon as the Ethics Committee came with their ruling, some of the companies even called to find out whether the scheduled date for commencement of the new season will be possible.

“So the litigations is truly affecting planning for the league and is very difficult convincing corporate bodies to come on board.” He added.

The new Premier League season will begin this weekend.

Litigations Pushed Away GPL Potential Sponsors - GFA Veep

"Ghanaian Referee"s Are Like Soldiers" - Ref Debrah

Ghanaian referees have spoken of their preparedness for the start to new Ghana premier league season. 
With the announcement of the league start date, all stakeholders – Ghana football association, clubs, referees and administrators in the game are putting in final touches as the start to the 2015/16 league season looks nigh.

 

Many Ghanaian referees have been deemed unfit and at times even their persona is questioned along with their capability whether they are qualified to even blow the whistle as a signal of authority. Some names have stood out to help salvage what is at times targeted at been a contributing factor to the decline of football in Ghana.

 

Vice president of referees association of Ghana (RAG) Joe Debrah has allayed the fears of many football fans on whether the referees are ready for the league start as many doubt they will perform better than they did last season.

 

In an interview with boss fm 93.7, referee Debrah said, “referee’s are like soldiers we’re always battle ready – We don’t give excuses because we always plan ahead. Referees are always training and for those who train at the various stadia namely, El-wak, Tema astro-turf, Essipong, Accra and Kumasi stadium will testify seeing them in training in readiness for officiating whenever they are called upon.”

 

“I can boldly say should the league even commence today or swiftly tomorrow we (referees) are ready,” he added.

Recently, referee J.O. Lamptey and David an assistant referee were selected by the confederation of African football – CAF for the ongoing African nations championship in Rwanda; a feat that signals a glimpse of hope the Ghanaian referees.

"Ghanaian Referee"s Are Like Soldiers" - Ref Debrah

Techiman City "Fight To Buy" The Truth - Takyi Arhin

Controversial Ghanaian football administrator, Takyi Arhin has revealed some hidden moves been implored by Techiman city to hide the truth behind the bribery allegations leveled against the Techiman based side by Nana Dwamerah.

 

Wa Africa united owner and bank-roller, Nana Dwamerah revealed he bribed Techiman city led by Micky Charles to a sum of Ghc2000 to help play a fixed game in the ultimate game of the GN bank division one league for the 2014/15 season. The bribery was to enable Wa Africa united win their game against Techiman city to ensure they stay in division league as they were battling relegation.

 

Owner of Techiman city,Micky Charles has not refute the claims of the allegations but in an interesting statement revealed his side only took the money to return it after beating Wa Africa united and not to play a fixed match.

Former Berekum Arsenal administrator and currently Chief Executive officer of division one club, Berlin FC has since the allegations went before the ethics committee of the Ghana football association – GFA has descended heavily on officials and individuals who claim to be affiliated with Techiman city calling officials of Wa Africa united to help curtail the truth.

 

In an interview with Boss fm, Mr. Arhin said, “some people with influence are working on Techiman city’s behalf to suppress the truth. Some individuals namely Boahene and Fred had called officials of Wa Africa united asking to let sleeping dogs lie; they continued asking what will they achieve should Techiman city be relegated?”

 

He added, “Nana Dwamerah – owner and bank-roller of Wa Africa united has spoken the truth and won’t lie as the customs and traditions of a Chief demands, based on this I advice those who believe they can influence him (Nana) with money and sweet talk to please come again because it won’t help. Football is about rules and regulations and so those laws must and should work.”

Techiman City "Fight To Buy" The Truth - Takyi Arhin

Collapse of League Sponsorship Unpardonable - Brew Butler

Former Ghana Football Association Chairman, Nana Brew Butler has called on the Kwesi Nyantakyi led-administration to wake up from their slumber and get a sponsor for the Ghana Premier league before the it commences on February 20.

The FA has struggled to get hold on to a sponsor for the Ghana Premier league for about three seasons now.

GLO, a telecommunications network took over sponsorship responsibilities from Ghana Onetouch — which was also a telecommunications network, but their relationship with the Ghana FA came to a sour end as they left without paying all monies due to FA.

First Capital Bank now Capital Bank took over the sponsorship in the second round of the 2013 / 2014 season. A five-year deal worth ten million U.S Dollars was agreed with the financial institution, but just two years into the agreement, the Bank has reneged from its commitment with the football governing body.

And Nana Brew-Butler, the first Chairman to get a sponsorship for the league, has called on the FA to get their acts right because the collapse in league sponsorship is unpardonable.

“When I was the Chairman of the Ghana Football Association, we had our first sponsorship of the league,” Nana Brew Butler told Vision One FM.

“But there were complains that it wasn’t enough, but I said the you start from scratch and since then the value of investment on sponsorship has move up.

“I must admit there have been an improvement which is fine so for it to collapse just like that is unpardonable,” he said.

The Ghana Football Association insist Capital Bank are sponsors of the league but they are on the lookout for a corporate company or body to replace or partner Capital Bank as the headline sponsor.

Collapse of League Sponsorship Unpardonable - Brew Butler

Ghana Premier League Brand Is Unparalleled - Saani Daara

Ghana Football Association Communication Director, Ibrahim Saani Daara has said that the Ghana Premier league brand is one every corporate body would like to associate themselves with.

The Football Association has struggled to get hold onto a sponsor for the league for the past decade.

Telecommunications Networks, OneTouch and GLO sponsored the Ghana Premier league, but all left either after the expiration of their contract or in a controversial manner.

First Capital Plus Bank now Capital Bank who took over from GLO have suspended their relationship with the Premier League with claims of restructuring.

But Ibrahim Saani Daara insist the country’s flagship competition brand is good enough for any corporate body because it provides a wide range of opportunities.

“The Ghana football brand is very, very attractive. It is very very attractive because the opportunity it provides to any company that comes on board is unparalleled to any competition held in this country,” the former BBC Journalist told Atinka FM.

Ibrahim Saani Daara explained that sponsors of the league have the opportunity of showcasing their company across the country and the continent and that is a bonus to the any corporate entity.

“The possibility of having your company emblazoned on pitch panels up and down this country, on Super Sports continentelly is something that’s like a gift,” he noted.

The Ghana football association is working around the clock to get a sponsor to either replace or partner First Capital Plus Bank now Capital Bank for the Ghana Premier league scheduled to start on February 20.

Ghana Premier League Brand Is Unparalleled - Saani Daara

First Capital Bank Deal Not Cancelled - Saani Daara

Communication Director of the Ghana Football Association has debunked claims that First Capital Plus Bank now Capital Bank has cancelled their sponsorship deal with the Ghana FA as head sponsors of the Ghana Premier league.

The football association signed a 5-year sponsorship with the finance company in 2014, and two years into the deal, the Bank has reneged their commitment with the reason of restructuring.

Capital Bank  wrote a letter to the GFA to suspend their sponsorship deal after the financial institution decided to embark to restructure their Bank.

But the Bank has not written to the FA to officially end their relationship

And Saani Daara, per the contract agreement, First Capital Plus Bank is still the headline sponsor of the Ghana Premier league.

“As far as the FA is concern First Capital Plus Bank now Capital Bank is still the headline sponsor of the Ghanaian league,” the former BBC Journalisttold Asempa FM.

“They only wrote a letter to us to suspend the deal we signed with them two years ago but did write to us that they have cancelled the contract we signed with them,” he added.

The agreement between the FA and First Capital Plus Bank now Capital Bank is governed by a contract and the FA will not hesitste to invoke their rights on the deal should Capital Bank not rescind their decision.

Sportscrusader can confirm that First Capital Plus Bank now Capital bank have lost interest in sponsoring the Ghanaian elite league considering the poor mileage they have received since after their two-year stint with the FA.

First Capital Bank Deal Not Cancelled - Saani Daara

"Capital Bank Is Still The Headline Sponsor Of The Ghana Premier League"-Kwesi Nyantaki

President of the Ghana Football Association Kwesi Nyantakyi has insisted that so far as he is concerned, Capital Bank (formerly First Capital Plus Bank) is still the headline sponsor of the Ghana Premier League.

The financial institution signed a five-year-deal with the Ghana Football Association in January 2014, worth $10 million in total and $2 million annually, but they have opted to halt all services related to the league after the company reached a decision to undergo restructuring.

First Capital Plus Bank cited poor organization, continuous change of date, poor attendance and low branding as their main reasons for the change of mind.

“The relationship between the GFA and the Capital Bank is governed by a contract and that contract is still in force. It has not been abrogated”, Kwesi Nyantakyi said in an interview.

“Under the contract there are procedures for bringing it to an end if any party is aggrieved or dissatisfied with any aspect of the contract or the relationship, there are procedures you follow to bring it to an end.”

“We received a letter from First Capital Plus informing us of the decision of their Board to suspend their sponsorship of the league. We pointed out clearly to them at a meeting that it is in clear contravention of the letter and spirit of the contract we have with them”

“We do not see anywhere in the contract where a suspension can be invoked to either put the league in ambiance or bring it to an end or suspend it temporarily or otherwise.”

“So the request for a suspension of the league is clearly alien to the contract and we have made that clear, but they still stick to their position.”

"Capital Bank Is Still The Headline Sponsor Of The Ghana Premier League"-Kwesi Nyantaki