Kumasi, Jan 15, GNA - Mr Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah, a former official of the World's football governing body, FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has implored the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to step up efforts to nip in the bud the high incidence of litigation that had dominated football administration in the country in recent times.

He has therefore charged the FA to apply the necessary sanctions against clubs who by themselves or their assigns initiate law suits against the Association instead of just following by FIFA's rules and regulations to address such issues.

Mr Owusu-Ansah, who is currently the Ashanti Regional Minister and Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwabre West, said this at a press soiree organised by the Professional League Board (PLB) of the GFA for sports journalists and broadcasters in the northern sector of the country in Kumasi at the weekend.

The reception, among others, was designed to give the journalists an insight into the functions and mission statement of the PLB. The soiree was also organized to enable the PLB interact and brainstorm with the journalists to find amicable ways of enhancing the success of the 2006/2007 Onetouch Premier League.

The Regional Minister advised Ghanaian Clubs not to hasten to dissociate themselves from supporters who take legal action against the FA, adding that 93As affiliates of the FA, it behoved on clubs to shun double standards and also avoid situations where there was cause for suspicion that the law suits initiated against the FA by some supporters were Club motivated".

The former FIFA and CAF official suggested to the GFA to explore avenues to allow for the usage of video footages as evidence in the cause of the adjudication of cases.

He said such a step was crucial to ensuring discipline in the running of the Premier league as deviant players, referees, supporters and club officials would be exposed and punished appropriately if they misbehaved in the field of play.

Mr Owusu-Ansah advocated a review of the FA's constitution to debar members who serve on the Executive and Disciplinary Committees from also serving on the Appeals Committee to avoid conflict of interest, especially in the adjudication of cases.

He said that there was also the need for the election of entirely different and neutral faces to constitute the Appeals Committee to ensure a fair and unbiased trial of cases.

Mr Frank Appiagyei, a member of the PLB, cautioned sports journalists and broadcasters to be circumspect about their reportage to ensure the success of the 2006/2007 Premier league. Madam Patricia Appiagyei, Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, commended the PLB for organising its maiden reception for the media outside Accra, stressing that it was high time such programmes were sustained for the advancement of professionalism and total development of the Ghanaian game.

She charged the media to endeavour to give the necessary publicity to the African Cup of Nations (CAN) tournament which is slated for Ghana in 2008. This, she said, would help create the needed awareness and enthusiasm about the tournament among the citizenry. 15 Jan. 07