IN a democracy, the process of governance is bound or dictated by the law.
Meanwhile, the law is supreme and, therefore, both the government and the governed are enjoined at all times to recognise, respect and adhere to the law. In this way, all individuals, groups, institutions and what have you are all equal before the law and no one, irrespective of status, colour or creed, is immune from sanctions of the law where a breach of it can be shown to have occurred.
We are, for the second time, returning to developments on the nation’s soccer front because certain developments are emerging that are not only an affront to our democratic process but also pose a veritable threat to the national interest.
Following the events of last Tuesday when the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), on the strength of a court order, took away computers and documents from the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to help in its investigations of alleged malfeasance at the GFA, a number of developments have emerged.
The Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) has announced an indefinite suspension of the Glo Premier League.
The GFA has itself indicated that it is contemplating instituting a court action against the EOCO for its action taken at the GFA Headquarters..
Unofficially, some members of the GFA have made comments on the matter, seeking to link the government with the action of the EOCO.
The Minority in Parliament yesterday held a press conference accusing the government of interfering in football administration and calling on it to wash its hands off the GFA.
This action of the soccer controlling bodies, political parties and politicians is clearly designed to take the matter away from soccer and its management to the realms of politics and something else.
Given that none of those alleging government interference has provided an iota of evidence to support that allegation, it would seem to suggest that that allegation and the decision to halt the national league are calculated to embarrass and cause disaffection for the government in the public eye.
It is on record that about 24 hours after the documents and the computers had been taken, the EOCO, after taking whatever information it wanted, returned them to the GFA offices, even though no GFA official was ready to take them.
It does appear, from a dispassionate appraisal of the unfolding events, that these things are being staged to divert attention from the overriding need of the GFA to honour its obligation of being accountable for the public funds it has expended and win public sympathy and support it does not deserve.
The pertinent questions we are asking are: Is the GFA above the laws of Ghana? Is the GFA a law onto itself, such that it is immune from any action by other legally constituted bodies in the discharge of its duties? Does the GFA have the power to ignore or undermine lawfully administered court orders or impede other lawfully established bodies from discharging their functions?
As we pointed out yesterday, the resort to excessive indulgence in partisan politicking of national issues, including crime, and the undue haste on the part of political parties to take a plunge into such issues even before they are properly informed on them undermine the efficiency and effectiveness of state institutions.
This, we wish to point out, does not augur well in our bid to consolidate democracy as the system of government for our nation, as the effective functioning of the system rests solidly on the efficacy of state institutions, not strong individuals, as President Barack Obama pointed out.
It should be noted that FIFA, the world soccer governing body itself, has been under investigations by the Swiss authorities. So FIFA itself is not above the law.
Therefore, let the EOCO and other state institutions, including the GFA and even FIFA, all do their work.
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