The adjudicatory chamber of the FIFA independent Ethics Committee has just declared Mr. Ahmad Ahmad, President of the Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF), and Vice-President of FIFA, responsible for having acted in violation of the FIFA Code of ethics.

Consequently, the adjudicatory chamber banned him from all football-related activities (administrative, sports and other) at the national and international levels for a period of five years.

CAF and CAF President take note of this decision which puts Mr. Ahmad Ahmad in a position of no longer being able to exercise his responsibilities.

In accordance with its statutes, CAF announces that the current interim of Constant Selemani Omari as President of CAF is extended.

The Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF), which is concerned about the reputational consequences of this long procedure, maintains the schedule of all its activities and programs.

Source: CAF

The Cabo Verde Olympic Committee has become the first National Olympic Committee (NOC) in Africa to join the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework.

This was hot on the heels of recent calls on African Sports Governing Bodies to take proactive steps to prioritize the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework initiative

So far, just a handful of sports organizations in Africa have signed up as participants of the initiative.

They are: Botswana’s Palapye All Stars Football Club, Kick4life in Lesotho, Whizzkids United Football Club in South Africa, Rivergrass United FC in Botswana, the ‘Burundi Rugby League-Rugby A XIII’ and the Cabo Verde Olympic Committee. Twenty three (23) months after it was unveiled in December 2018, the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework has garnered 168 signatories across the globe at the time of publishing this article.

The Cabo Verde Olympic Committee is the 166th signatory that has affirmed its commitment to:

The Five (5) Principles of the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework.

1. Undertake systematic efforts to promote greater environmental responsibility.
2. Reduce overall climate impact.
3. Educate for Climate.
4. Promote sustainable and responsible consumption.
5. Advocate for Climate.

By signing the declaration sporting organizations support the goals of the Paris Agreement in reducing the global temperature rise to 1.5 Degree Celsius above pre-order industrial levels.

The cabo Verde Olympic Committee has also promised to construct an eco-friendly (sustainable) headquarters for it’s activities. The headquarters promise to be one of the biggest projects undertake in accordance with the the initiative.

Earlier this year, the COC and Praia City Council agreed a deal for a piece of land 1,690 metres squared in size to be transferred to the National Olympic Committee free of charge.

That is where the headquarters will be built.

Cabo verde, an island nation is particularly vulnerable to the climate change, especially rising sea levels.

The Sports for Climate Action Framework

The Sports for Climate Action initiative aims to provide sports organizations with a forum where organizations can pursue climate action in a consistent and mutually supportive fashion by learning from each other, disseminating good practices, lessons learned, developing new tools, and collaborating on areas of mutual interest.

The initiative further aims at supporting and guiding sports actors in achieving climate change goals.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, UNFCCC’s Sports for Climate Action Framework was launched by the global sports community and UN Climate change at the COP24 Conference in Katowise, Poland in December 2018. The initiative seeks to bring sports organizations, fans, athletes, and teams together to raise awareness and action to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.

The initiative further aims to drive emissions reduction in sports operations and tap the popularity and passion of sports to engage millions of fans.

By Dela Ahiawor

The Confederation of African Football [CAF] have announced that CAF 1st Vice president, Mr Constant Selemani Omari’s position as interim President until March 2021.

This comes after the world football governing body, FIFA, banned CAF President Ahmad Ahmad for five years for financial misconduct.

According to a FIFA statement, the Malagasy, who had been under investigation, has been charged for breaching 4 acts of the FIFA code of conduct.

Following the announcement, the African governing body announced that Constant Omari will take charge of the institution until presidential elections in March 2021.

“In accordance with its statutes, CAF announces that the current interim of Mr. Constant Selemani Omari as President of CAF is extended.” reads a statement on CAF‘s website.

The Congolese FA president had been put in interim charge of Africa’s football governing body since November 13, until the end of the month after Ahmad Ahmad contracted coronavirus and was recovering at home.

In July 2019, he was nominated to be the first vice president of CAF.

He will remain in charge of the Confederation of African Football until a new president is elected in March 2020.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

RE: Man Dies While Fixing Party Flag On A Light Pole

The attention of La Dade-Kotopon Municipal Assembly has been drawn to a video

circulating on social media and also in the main stream media with the caption “Man dies whiles fixing Party Flag on a light pole”.

We wish to state that the deceased, Mr. Richard Buenortey, aged 38, was an

Electrician of the La Dade-Kotopon Municipal Assembly. Mr. Buenortey performed his duties professionally and diligently and supervised all electrical contract works including MiDA Electrification project carried out within the Municipality.

He and his team were tasked to undertake an installation of the Assembly’s share of 300 streetlight bulbs from the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council. They commenced the installation works on 12th November, 2020. Until his untimely death at Labone on Wednesday, 18th November, 2020, the team had installed 276 streetlight bulbs in six out of ten Electoral Areas in the Municipality.

By this release, we wish to set the records straight that, Richard Buenortey died in

the line of duty, and that the general public should ignore the news making rounds

on Social media and in the mainstream media that “A man dies while fixing a party

flag on a light pole”. This caption purports to twist the fact of his unfortunate death

must be ignored.

As it stands the cause of his death, contrary to what is being circulated on social and in the mainstream media is currently unknown, and we are awaiting the autopsy report from the hospital.

By this statement, the La Dade-Kotopon Municipal Assembly wishes to extend our

condolences to his family, staff, friends and loved ones.

Indeed, we have lost an illustrious staff. May his soul rest in perfect peace.

Thank You.

HON. SOLOMON KOTEY NIKOI

MUNICIPAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE

From Sammy Heywood Okine

As part of the efforts to deliver swift and effective service to all Clubs and Stakeholders, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has been offering same day service to Clubs which request for Introductory Letters to assist their work.

When a request is made for an introductory letter with all relevant documents attached before 3pm, the GFA Introductory letter will be delivered same day, but when the necessary documents are presented after 3pm, the letter will be delivered on the next working day.

Application for an Introductory Letter for player or official in the Premier, Women’s and Division One League must be accompanied by the club request letter, foreign club invitation letter, detail page of passport containing the picture and date of birth of the player or official which can be compared to the data in the FA system.

Applications from players under the auspices of the Regional Football Association (RFA) must come with an additional signed letter from the RFA.

Same day service applies to applicants (clubs) in need of letters to attach to documents of foreign players in order to secure working permit from the Ghana Immigration Service.

Again, application for Player Status has also been digitalized. Applicant are advised to submit their request online and do not have to travel from far to deliver letter in person.

All these services could be accessed through the GFA official email, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and once an approval is given, letters could be picked up at the Secretariat.

The GFA is taking these steps to render excellent services to Clubs and Stakeholders to enhance their activities.

GFA

The Ghana Football Association as part of measures to protect the Integrity of the game, has asked the Regional Football Association (RFA), Premier League Clubs, Women’s League Clubs and the Division one league to appoint Integrity Officers.

The Football Association is introducing this to help prevent all methods or practices, such as corruption, doping or match manipulation, which might jeopardize the integrity of matches, competitions, players, officials or give rise to abuse of association football.

The World governing football body, FIFA introduced the Integrity Initiative with the main objective of promoting the integrity and the protection of football matches and competitions.

This means promoting integrity internally and to the public at all times, as well as protecting football matches and competitions against match manipulation as far as possible and under all circumstances.

The RFA and clubs who are yet to appoint their various integrity officers are urged to submit their names and contact details to the GFA Integrity office.

The GFA Compliance and Integrity Officer has been working with FIFA Integrity to build the capacity of stakeholders in this area. This season has already seen integrity training for Referees, Match Commissioners, Venue Media Officers and Club Safety and Security Officers.

GFA Communications

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has released approval notice on venues submitted by Kumasi Asante Kotoko SC and Ashantigold SC for their upcoming CAF Champions League and CAF Confederations Cup matches respectively.

Asante Kotoko SC  kick start the Africa campaign this weekend on the road to FC Nouadhibou in Mauritania while Ashantigold  SC stays in Obuasi  and welcomes Salitas FC. 

After thorough checks on the various venues submitted by both clubs, the CAF Club Licensing Committee has approved the following;

ASHANTIGOLD SC LEN CLAY SPORTS STADIUM – OBUASI

CAPE COAST SPORTS STADIUM – CAPE COAST APPROVED

ASANTE KOTOKO SC ACCRA SPORTS STADIUM – ACCRA APPROVED ALIU MAHAMA SPORTS STADIUM, TAMALE APPROVED

GFA Communications

The Olympic and non- Olympic family in Ghana on Friday assigned a delegation led by the President, Ben Nunoo Mensah and other Board members of the GOC/ CGA to the AICC to console with the Family of the former President H. E Jerry Rawlings.

The GOC President signed the book of condolence for H E Jerry Rawlings on behalf of the delegation.

The GOC wrote -

"From a young 32 years old Flt Lt. you rose to become one of the most pivotal leaders in Africa and the world.

Your huge impact on the direction and destiny of our sports and our great country, will forever keep you in our hearts.

On behalf of the Olympic family in the world, we say fare thee well Papa Jay. R.I.P"

The delegation also went to the residence of the late Mr. Frank Quist, who was the chief director at the Ministry of Youth & Sports to commiserate with the wife and family.

According to Ben Nunoo Mensah, it is sad to lose distinguished personalities at the time and they are deeply sad by the turn of events.

He prayed that they will get befitting memorial services and burials. He expressed that the nation, Ghana has lost people who sacrificed a lot and deserve to be honoured.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Leeds United Partner With Jay-Z's Roc Nation Agency     

Jay-Z founded Roc Nation in 2008 and Leeds are the first Premier League club to partner with the agency

Never before have Jay-Z and Leeds United been mentioned in the same breath but then along came 2020.

The Premier League newcomers have marked their long-awaited return to the top flight by signing a new partnership with the rapper's entertainment agency.

In doing so, they join the likes of global music superstars Rihanna, Alicia Keys and DJ Khaled on its roster, as well as footballers Kevin de Bruyne and Marcus Rashford.

Esteemed company indeed.

The partnership was unveiled on Saturday in the form of a mural depicting homegrown Leeds and England midfielder Kalvin Phillips, alongside club legends Lucas Radebe and Albert Johanneson, in Leeds city centre.

Painted by street artist Akse P19 - who recently completed a mural of Rashford in Manchester - the design "proudly honours the diverse heritage of the club" as well as that of minority-owned Roc Nation, whose New York home also features.

"It's really impressive - it's a symbol of our club in this moment with Kalvin," Victor Orta, Leeds' sporting director, told BBC West Yorkshire Sport.

"It's a real pleasure for me and the club because it is a symbol of our team and now it is eternal in a wall."

He added: "It's a big international brand worldwide. We want to grow in the States, we want to grow in Asia.

"It's a partnership that shows where Leeds United are now.

"It shows the ambition of the club to continue growing."

Roc Nation, a leading music and sports agency, aims to "support the growth of the Leeds United brand in key markets of the USA and Asia".

In commissioning the mural, Roc Nation's Kelly Hogarth said it was intended to "do something special for the fans".

"It's such a lovely time with Kalvin getting his England national team call-up, just really championing and celebrating figures who have really paved the way for our modern-day footballers," she said.

"This is our first consultancy partnership in the Premier League. We'd had a lot of different discussions with a lot of different clubs, and it took just an hour with Andrea [Radrizzani - Leeds' owner] and Angus [Kinnear - Leeds' chief executive] for us to really buy into their strategic vision for the club.

"There's a great blueprint for success and you really need a partner who is willing to collaborate and wants to try new things."

Jay-Z gig at Elland Road, anyone?

By BBC

World Football governing body, FIFA, has banned CAF President Ahmad Ahmad for five years for financial misconduct.

According to a FIFA statement, the Malagasy, who has been under investigation, has been charged for breaching 4 acts of the FIFA code of conduct.

Ahmad Ahmad had been under investigation by FIFA Ethics Committee between 2017 and 2019, into irregularities concerning CAF- related governance issues.

According to a FIFA statement, the Malagasy has been charged for among many governance issues using CAF money to finance an Umrah pilgrimage to Mecca for 15 African FA presidents.

The FIFA Adjudicatory chamber, after an extensive hearing, ruled that the CAF President, had breached his duty of loyalty, offered gifts and other benefits, mismanaged funds and abused his position at CAF President, pursuant to the FIFA Code of Ethics.

The decision of the chamber is set to be made known to Mr Ahmad in the next 60 days, per act 78 par 2 of the FIFA Code of Ethics.                                                                            

By FIFA.com