GFA bares teeth at Glo over $6.5m sponsorship arrears

• Posted on October 30, 2013October 30, 2013
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

The FA boss says they have been frustrated enough and it is about time they resorted to legal means to recoup the whopping sum since persuasion has failed

The Ghana FA is planning to drag mobile communications giants Glo to court over outstanding sponsorship money as title sponsors of the Ghana Premier League and official sponsor of the Black Stars.

Glo owes the football governing body $6.5 million in arrears and their lack of commitment to the timelines to settle it has been described as frustrating by the GFA president Kwesi Nyantakyi.

“We have kept to our side of the deal. We have even gone on to hold several meetings, sometimes travelling to Nigeria, just to get this issue resolved,” Nyantakyi told the Graphic Sports.

“There have been several discussions and concessions given just to ensure that Glo could settle the outstanding bills, but after the last September deadline, no word had come from them. It is very frustrating and unfair to the clubs and the other parties involved and we must now act to claim the money.”

Nyantakyi revealed the FA also intends to drag Optimum Media Prime (OMP) along to get them settle outstanding money in respect of exclusive media rights for the Premier League which was given to the company to run Metro TV.

Head of Marketing Communications for Glo Mobile Ghana, Dominic Icha, said  the company was confronted with some challenges which resulted in the default in paying the remainder of its sponsorship fee to the GFA.

“We are trustworthy and creditable company whose work ethics are based on trust and principles. Indeed, we do not intend to owe the FA. There has been a reason why the payment has not been honoured on time and we have not failed to communicate this to the GFA,” he explained.

“What is happening is not an abnormal situation in the business. We do not take the relationship with the GFA and the Black Stars for granted, and at the right time, we will honour our obligation.

By Kobina Welsing