FIFA Rejects GFA’s Proposal to Expand Executive Council —Approves Term Extension and Women’s Representation Changes

The Ghana Football Association’s (GFA) proposal to expand its Executive Council from 12 to 22 members has been temporarily turned down by FIFA.

The proposed structural amendment was part of a broader statutory review aimed at enhancing representation among stakeholders in Ghanaian football.

The GFA had recommended new seats for one woman elected by the Women’s Premier League clubs, eight additional Regional Football Association (RFA) chairpersons, and one representative from constituent bodies such as referees, schools football, and other affiliated groups.

However, FIFA advised against implementing the expansion at this time, citing the need for further assessment and a more structured approach to such significant reforms.

Despite the setback on expansion, two key proposals from the GFA were approved:

• Extension of the GFA Presidential term limit from two terms to three, aligning it with CAF and FIFA governance standards. This corrects a discrepancy in the previous statutes, which allowed Executive Council members to serve up to three terms while the President was limited to two.

• The elected Women’s Representative on the Executive Council will now serve as the 2nd Vice President of the GFA, in line with FIFA’s mandate to ensure meaningful female representation and promote gender equity in football administration.

These reforms follow a three-year review process initiated by the GFA, during which the association received a wide range of proposed amendments from its membership.

The review involved broad stakeholder consultation, including clubs from the Premier League, Division One League, Women’s Premier League, and the Regional Football Associations. The final consolidated proposals were then submitted to FIFA Governance and CAF Governance for further evaluation.

With FIFA’s endorsement of the two key reforms, the GFA will now present them for ratification at its Congress scheduled for Tuesday, August 12, 2025. This marks a critical step in the Association’s ongoing efforts to strengthen governance and inclusivity within Ghanaian football.