GFA sets GHS 50,000 as reward for information on match fixing
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has said persons who provide information on attempts to manipulate matches will be awarded GHS 50,000 in order to bring to a stop to the menace.
“The Executive Council unanimously agreed to reward any individual who volunteers to give match manipulation information to the Association a package of GHc50,000 leading to the combating of match manipulations and betting,” a statement from the GFA said.
“The reward package is in addition to other plans, mechanisms and investigations currently ongoing to protect the sanctity and integrity of the game.”
The Executive Council urged the Football Association’s judicial bodies to speedily pronounce verdicts on such cases to ensure that the culprits face the music.
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“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. While recognizing the fact that match manipulation cases across the world take a lot of time, the Council urged the GFA judicial bodies to dedicate more time and urgency to ensure that such cases are speedily adjudicated.”
Manipulation of matches has been a dent on the image of Ghanaian football over the years.
Reports and investigations have shown these incidents with the most notable of them being the Number 12 exposè by investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas in 2018 which also revealed widespread corruption across various levels of Ghana football.
Then GFA President, Kwesi Nyantakyi was forced to resign from his role and the football season was curtailed for over a year. He was banned for life from football but saw the ruling overturned by CAS, eventually resulting in a 15 year ban.
There have been investigations into a few alleged incidents of match manipulation in recent years.
The most high profile was a league match between Ashgold and Inter Allies, which ended 7-0 to the former, but earned infamy after an Allies defender scored two ridiculous own goals.
The FA said it was investigating the incident but is yet to announce a final decision.
