A former Ghana Football Association President, Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, has expressed his disappointment in local football authorities for frustrating the efforts of George Afriyie at contesting the upcoming presidential election of the FA.
He said apart from an even playing field that would offer both candidates the same opportunities to contest, he was against any scheme that sort to favour one candidate over the other.
His call is in reaction to reports suggesting that George Afriyie, who was disqualified from contesting the FA presidential election after his forms were found to have breached some portions of the FA statute, was frustrated at the offices of the FA while submitting his appeal.
According to him, promoting an even playing field to all candidates was the only way to make the outcome of the results credible but if impediments were put on the way of one person, it would look as though the election was being skewed in favour of one person.
An obviously frustrated ex-GFA boss told the Graphic Sports he wasn’t happy with the manner in which Afriyie's issue was being handled and believes the incumbent, Kurt Okraku was still favourite to retain power but does not subscribe to any machinations that will hinder the participation of others.
Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe said he won’t condone the breach of the statute of the football governing body by any aspirant seeking to lead the association but once the statute makes room for appeal, he won’t also support any acts that frustrates its submission and described as shameful and unfair the treatment meted out to Afriyie.
''I heard about the difficulty Afriyie was facing when his representatives were trying to present his appeal papers to the FA. I hear the security men were preventing his representatives and also the receptionist who gave him the forms for appeal was refusing to take it back.
''I don’t think this is good at all. If this is true, then I am very much disappointed in the leadership of the FA. This is nothing than a dictatorial act.
''If you claim you have the genuine support, I don’t see why you should put impediment in the way of your opponents'', he noted.
He cautioned that they should be guided by the tenets of democracy since the FA was a democratic institution and said such practices does not auger well for the principles behind the reasons for which he fought for the position to be opened to everyone who wants to lead the association.