A Memorandum of Understanding purporting to cede a quarter of incomes accruing from the marketing and sponsorship activities of Ghana?s national teams to Foot Elite ? Intercontact Marketing Sarl, a company said to specialise in football marketing, organisation of games and training camps based in France, is the latest controversy to hit the Ghana Football Association.

Mr. Kofi Manu, otherwise called Wonderful in football circles and Premier Division side Berekum Arsenal?s Accra representative, has called for its immediate abrogation or review because the arrangement does not serve the interest of the Ghana Football Association.

In a terse letter addressed to the Chairman of the GFA Executive Council and copied to the President of Congress, as well as the chairmen of the GFA Management Board and GHALCA, Manu said the contract deal signed between the GFA and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports on the one hand and Foot Elite, was done surreptitiously because it failed to receive the blessing of the GFA Executive Council contrary to provisions.

The two and a half year deal, which started on January 1, 2004 and is expected to terminate at the end of August 2006, is already in its fifth month of a six-month probation period.

It was signed on behalf of the GFA by its former Chairman Ben Koufie, while the Minister of State at the Ministry of Youth, Education and Sports, Rashid Bawa appended his signature for the Ministry.

The deal grants Foot Elite exclusive rights to represent Ghana in discussing and negotiating sponsorship and marketing contracts for the country. Foot Elite would expect a commission of 25 percent on all cash incomes.

The company also has exclusive mandate to negotiate and organise worldwide friendly games for the senior national team, the Black Stars and also for the Black Meteors. The company will again receive a commission of 25 percent on monies realised from match fees.

And the contract even mandates the company to exclusively negotiate and organise a training camp worldwide for the Black Stars and the Olympic team, "in accordance with the wishes of the national Head Coach.?

Manu in his letter stated that Article 10 (7d) of the GFA statutes requires that such a transaction should have been approved by the Executive Council and said he was surprised that Minister Bawa should sign the document for the GFA.