UPPER WEST REGIONAL FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION (UWRFA) HELD AN EMERGENCY MEETING FOR ALL CLUBS

The Upper West Regional Football Association held an emergency meeting for all clubs in the region to bring them to speed with related to some current happenings at the Ghana Football Association, with which every club should be in the known and participate to be duly registered as a member of the association.

The UWRFA Chairman, Alhaji SD Yahaya Yahaya extended his heartfelt gratification to members of the Football family for their support during the death of his wife some few weeks ago and he is most grateful to the Upper West Branch of Ghana Coaches Association, the Referees Association and all individuals who contributed in diverse ways towards the funeral ceremony of his better half.

Mr. Abu Umar, incharge of IT at the RFA was called upon to delineate on how clubs can get registered with the FIFA connect for the 2020/21 Football season, which he clearly stated the registration process commenced on the 15th August and to be closed on 31st October, 2020 and clubs are expected to get registered before the deadline to guarantee a slot of participation in the upcoming league.

As part of the modalities for the registration, he highlighted some significant changes from the previous registration and with this the RFA Chairman must endorsed each club registration form before submitting it online.

As part of casting more light on player registration, the IT Officer explained the requirements as expected of a player before he or she is qualified to register. Birthday Certificates cannot longer be used as a requirement due to the recent Supreme Court ruling. Ghana Card, Voters ID Card, National Health insurance Card, travelling Passport and Driving license are now the requirements for player registration.

The number of players each club is expected to registered still stand at 30-35 players, he added.

Football activities on the domestic scene have been absent for a while due to the global pandemic, which some pronouncement of the return of Football on the 2nd week of October, which the GFA are working diligently with the Stakeholders towards this day, he spinned.

As part of the club licensing regime, all clubs are expected to register with the Registrar General Department as a company of limited shares or guarantee, submit your registration certificate before 31st December, 2020 before your club can be admitted into the system, Alhaji SD Yahaya admonished.

The Clubs unanimously voted 15th October, 2020 as the deadline for the submission of their business Certificate to the RFA.

Failure on the part of any club to submit their business Certificate before the deadline will be deemed as a new club and will be required pay 5000 and 1000 cedis for Division II and Jevenil clubs respectively for entry.

The global pandemic is having a toll effects on all spheres of our National lives including Football and as part to ameliorate the mounting impact, the Ghana Football Association have received $500,000 as first trench from the FIFA Covid 19 Relief Fund.

As part of accessing the FIFA Covid 19 Relief Fund,the Ghana Football Association have tasked all the Regional Football Associations to apply for the fund , which $100,000 will be disbursed to the 10 RFAs.

The UWRFA quest to access the fund have applied as required, Alhaji SD Yahaya declared.

Alhaji SD Yahaya shared with the club representatives an email he received from the GFA detailing some 53 Women Division II clubs to benefit from the FIFA Covid 19 Relief Fund. The 5 Women Division II league clubs in the region with only Kpongu Ladies FC, Real Crusaders FC and Upland Ladies FC are the only clubs stand to benefit from the fund .Some reservations were raised why the omission of the two clubs with which a response was provided to that, as clubs stand to benefit if only you are registered in the system.

The 3 Women Division II league clubs will pocket $1500 each as their share of the fund .

As part of the intervention implored by the 10 RFAs chairmen to the General Secretary of the GFA putting into consideration plight of many grassroots clubs, an amendment was reached to reach to reduce the registration fees for Division III and Jevenil clubs harbouring the intention of registering .

As the powers vested inthe leadership of the RFA have appointed Mr. Tahiru Mohammed as the Referees Manager, the primary duties of the Referees Manager is to recruit young individuals between the ages of 12 -15 and train them and as a appointing authority for appointing referees during matchday.

Mr. D. Ismael, Mr. Dondolinaa and Miss M. Mansura have been appointed as Referees Instructors and while Mr. Mustapha Eliasu amd Mr.B.Kizito are also in for the Technical Instructors role , Alhaji SD Yahaya concluded.

Despite the short notice to the meeting, 27 clubs were in attendance with 5 EXCO members present to assist FA Chairman stared the affairs of the meeting.

From the RFA Communication Directorate.