Posted by After a long wait, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has finally released it verdict on the case between Tema Youth Bankroller, William Osei Kwaku Palmer and the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
Wilfred Osei Palmer in October dragged the now-defunct Normalization Committee led by Dr. Kofi Amoah as it president to CAS to seek justice for an ‘unfair’ disqualification from contesting for the Ghana FA presidential elections last year.
The Tema Youth Bankroller was disqualified on two counts, the first for failing to pay the mandatory 10 percent of Joseph Paintsil’s transfer fee to the GFA following his transfer to Belgian side KRC Genk in 2018. The second was for failing an integrity test.
Kurt Okraku eventually won the elections to become Ghana’s new GFA president, however, Palmer, who deemed his disqualification as ‘inequitable’ dragged the case to CAS to seek justice.
William Osei Kwaku Palmer dragged the case to CAS wanting the results of the elections held in October annulled and his candidacy reinstated for fresh elections to be held.
However, after 10 months of waiting, the global sports tribunal body on September 1 issued a letter addressed to both parties, and signed by the President of the Panel, Michele Bernasconi, CAS dismissed Palmer’s petition.
The decision means Kurt Okraku will lead the federation until fresh elections are held in 2023 and Osei Palmer will no longer be eligible for any of the Association’s top positions.
Palmer, who paid the initial costs of the GFA for the case will further pay the costs of the arbitration, a fee yet to be determined by CAS.
Reacting to the verdict, Osei Palmer who’s in no doubt excited with the outcome of the verdict announced that he has accepted the verdict in good faith and won’t be appealing, but it remains unclear whether he will continue to fight for his integrity.
“There’s nothing to be done at the moment. We will continue to support Ghana football,” he said.
The outcome of the verdict might not be appealing to everyone, but this is the time for all stakeholders to put aside their differences and look at the bigger picture. This is the time to come together and resurrect Ghana football.