Former Vice President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and Presidential aspirant, George Afriyie has raised red flag against paying the 10% of international transfer sums to the football governing body.
The move by the domestic football governing body which was introduce in mid-2000s was aimed at generating revenue for the association in order to invest in the development of juvenile football.
Out of the 10% transfer sum, 5% was meant to be paid to the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA), the welfare body of clubs in the country.
But according to George Afriyie the money accrued from the transfers in recent times by the Ghana FA has not been used to perform task expected of them.
In spite of that, he has clamored for it cancellation.
“We must erase the 10% paid by clubs to the GFA after direct onward transfers,” he told Nhyira FM.
“It has outlived its purpose and most clubs evade it by transferring players on loan initially and pay $500 for the ITC with an option to make it permanent later. Once it is made permanent they pay nothing to the GFA.”
Reacting to the Normalization Committee writing to Division One side Tema Youth to demand for an unpaid 10% transfer sum of their duo Joseph Paintsil and Gabriel Larveh in 2019 where the club argued that an initial $500 was paid to the FA for each transfer of the players on loan, therefore, they were reluctant to pay the 10% requested, George says the disagreement between the FA and Tema Youth became a protracted one because the money involved was huge.
“Palmer’s transfer [of Joseph Paintsil and Gabriel Larveh] became the talk of the town because the money involved was huge,” he noted.
The 10% enshrined in the regulations of the GFA was approved by Congress, and the power is before to repeal the law. Afriyie is committed to proposing for congress to expunge the law in the regulations.
“I am one of the advocates who will propose at congress for the 10% paid by clubs to the GFA for transfers outside to be scrapped.
[As I said earlier] its purpose has been defeated. The purpose was for the FA and GHALCA to use the funds generated to support the clubs in terms of their welfare, juvenile football and others but that has not been realized. It has been a while we organized any competition for juvenile football,” he added.
“Let’s say, Osei Palmer scouts a player from a colts club in Ashaiman, he can sell the player and 5% each of the amount is given to the GFA and GHALCA and it is not used to develop youth football, then what Benfica club gained?” he questioned.
He continued that, “GHALCA for instance is supposed to be a welfare body for the clubs but has become for welfare for members but not clubs
“When have they gone to the aid of any club or clubs in difficulty? I am positive I will have the support of a lot of clubs to get rid of it,” the former Black Stars management committee member stated.
The GFA recently wrote to clubs to demand they pay 10% of the total sum of transfer fees.
