AshantiGold SC to make a return to Ghana football

Suspended AshantiGold SC could make a return to Ghana football, according to a statement from the club.

The club announced they have been in constant engagement with the Ghana Football Association to salvage their football status.

AshantiGold club was suspended by the Executive Council of the GFA unanimously under article 17{1} of the GFA statutes.

The decision was taken based on the club’s continuous dealing with banned officials, Kwaku Frimpong and Emmanuel Frimpong, which constituted a serious violation of both the GFA and FIFA statutes.

Dr. Kwaku Frimpong and his son Emmanuel Frimpong, were both banned by the GFA Disciplinary Committee for 10 and 8 years respectively for engaging in match manipulation.

The action to ban the duo relates to a 2020/2021 Ghana Premier League game at the Obuasi Len Clay stadium between Ashgold and Inter Allies FC.

Ashantigold beat Inter Allies by 7-0 in an uncompetitive game in which an Allies player, Hashmin Musah, scored two own goals and later admitted his action was to spoil a bet placed on the said game by officials of both clubs.

The suspension of Ashgold meant the club lost all membership rights and that the club could not play in any football competition, including but not limited to the Ashanti Regional Football Association Division Two League.

But in a statement released by the Club on Monday, May 13, 2024, they revealed ongoing engagement with the GFA, in anticipation of a return to Ghana Football.

Speaking to Luv Fm Sports in an exclusive interview, the Administrative Manager of AshGold, Kwabena Danso opened up about the processes they have gone through to see the club’s possible return to Ghana football.

“We were planning to find our way back to the top flight, that’s where we belonged. Everybody knows AshantiGold to be a premier team but we are all aware of what happened to us in 2022. In trying to find our way back we first of all decided to seek redress from the normal human court but the decision which came was not in our favour. So after that, we decided that we really want to see this team back, so if the law court will not help us then we have to sit with the GFA to discuss the way forward,” he said.

Kwabena Danso says the engagements with the FA have progressed smoothly and is optimistic Ashgold will make a reappearance to Ghana football in the 2024/25 season.

“We went to the GFA a couple of months ago and spoke to them about our willingness to do anything possible and come back. They [GFA] gave us the guidelines and told us before any decision will be taken the Executive Committee must first sit on the case.

“We went to the General Secretary of the FA and he forwarded our request to the Exco. So in one of their meetings, they discussed our comeback and we were told we could come back but not to the top flight as we wanted but rather Division Two because that’s where we were sent before our suspension for dealing with banned officials. As it stands now it is very possible Ashgold will play in Division Two next season. For that I am very sure, highly optimistic that next season AshantiGold will play in the Division Two league,” he stressed.