Sports
Sound Financial Management crucial for success of Football – Mark Addo
Vice President Mark Addo has urged Member Associations participating in the ongoing FIFA Financial Governance Workshop to prioritize accountability, transparency, and integrity.
Speaking on the first day of the workshop in Accra, Addo stressed that sound financial management is crucial for the success of football.
As Chairman of the Finance Committee, Addo’s remarks underscore the importance of responsible financial governance in ensuring the long-term viability of football organizations.
‘’Over the next three days, we will embark on a journey to deepen our understanding of financial governance, a cornerstone of integrity, accountability, and transparency in football’’ Vice President Mark Addo said.
‘’As we all know, football is more than just a sport. It is a global force that unites people, communities, and nations. But for the game to thrive, especially off the pitch, sound financial management is non-negotiable. This workshop reflects FIFA’s commitment to equipping us with the tools and expertise needed to safeguard the resources that sustain football’s growth’’.
‘’In Ghana, we have made strides in strengthening governance through modern auditing practices, robust financial systems, and fostering trust among our stakeholders’’ he added.
The Member Associations participating in the workshop include host Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Cape Verde, The Gambia, and Kenya.
The FIFA team of experts is led by Christopher Suppiger, Head of Financial Governance, Lucca Piazza, Director, Reforms Implementation, Meryem Atouk, FIFA’s Finance Services Manager; Andrea Portabella, Senior Capacity Development and Education Manager; Silmara Sousa, FIFA Regional Coordinator for Africa; and Raissa Toure, FIFA Division Office Coordinator.
The Ghana Football Association is represented by General Secretary Prosper Harrison Addo (Esq.), Chief Finance Officer Collins Dei, Joyce Asare, and Saiyida Maryam Siba, Head of Financial Reporting.
Maxwell Caesar Kemeh, a top-level administrator at the Competitions Department, serves as the Local Liaison Officer for the Workshop.
Sports
Free Agent (Floating) Status approved by Players’ Status Committee on Jan 23, 2025
The Player Status Committee of the Ghana Football Association(GFA) has released a new list of players whose Free Agent (Floating) Letters are ready for collection.
The underlisted players, who were successful with their Floating Status applications, have been declared free agents and are kindly requested to visit the GFA Headquarters at Ridge, Accra, to collect their letters.
Below is the list of the players whose applications were approved on January 23, 2025:
GFA Communications
Sports
FIFA Financial Governance Workshop launches in Accra
A three-day high-level workshop on FIFA financial governance has commenced at the Marriott Hotel in Accra.
This initiative aims to equip participants with the latest knowledge and tools to enhance financial governance and accountability within football administration.
Organised by FIFA, the workshop is part of the newly established FIFA Campus, which serves as a central hub for football education and capacity development for ten member associations, including Cape Verde, Gambia, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and the host Ghana.
The workshop will focus on strategies to improve financial transparency, effective resource allocation, and best practices that align with FIFA’s financial management standards.
It has brought together general secretaries and chief finance directors from mostly Anglophone African member associations.
Performing the opening ceremony, Mark Addo, Vice President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), praised FIFA for selecting Ghana as the venue for this important workshop. He emphasised that it would enhance understanding of financial governance, which is essential for integrity, accountability, and transparency in football.
Addo highlighted that transparency, accountability, and ethical governance are fundamental principles for FIFA, which requires all member associations to adhere to strict financial standards to maintain trust and integrity within the sport.
“Implementing transparent, accountable, and ethical financial practices fosters trust and supports our global football communities. It also aids in expanding our products and collaborations.
Workshops like this provide a valuable opportunity for us to learn from each other and share ideas that will strengthen our collective efforts,” he stated.
He urged participants to recognise that financial governance is not merely a technical obligation but a moral and ethical responsibility to the millions who view association officials as custodians of the game. He encouraged open dialogue and the courage to embrace new ideas.
Christoph Suppiger, FIFA’s head of financial governance programs, reiterated that the organization’s commitment to developing football globally relies on sound financial management. This ensures that member associations receive optimal value from funding distributed through the FIFA Forward program. Regular workshops like this one are essential for enhancing financial governance and capacity development among member associations.
The workshop began with a presentation of the Financial Governance Guide, followed by discussions, group work, and case studies covering topics such as conflict of interest, planning and budgeting, procurement processes, and the significance of maintaining adequate supporting documentation.
By Raymond Ackumey
