The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has hit Legon Cities Football Club with a transfer ban following the club’s failure to make good on a payment schedule set out by the GFA’s Players’ Status Committee (PSC) and later affirmed by the Disciplinary Committee.
The issue began in October 2021 over unpaid dues to former team member Francis Nuer Addo. The disciplinary decision instructed Legon Cities to compensate Addo with GHS 29,000 for unpaid salaries and benefits, spanning from October 2021 to October 2022.
Despite repeated reminders and a lenient payment plan, Legon Cities fell short on the agreed payments, failing to meet the deadlines set in December 2024, January 2025, and February 2025.
A GHC 5,000 fine was imposed on the club, and a transfer ban was implemented after November 27, 2024. The ban will restrict Legon Cities from signing new players until they settle their outstanding debt to Addo.
The transfer ban was activated for the 2025/26 season following the club’s continuous default. The ban applies both domestically and internationally. In addition to the ban, the club is also at risk of a three-point deduction for every league or FA Cup match played while the debt remains unsettled.
Francis Addo, who was responsible for initiating the enforcement process via the Professional Footballers Association of Ghana (PFAG), has publicly expressed his disappointment over the GFA’s delay in enforcing the decision.
In a letter to the GFA dated June 19, 2025, Addo criticized the seemingly selective enforcement of sanctions, noting that while other clubs like Nsoatreman FC were quickly penalized for similar violations, the GFA seemed to delay sanctions against Legon Cities.
Addo cautioned that the failure to enforce the decision could undermine the credibility of the Ghana Premier League table and deter potential sponsors and investors.
He also expressed concern about the potential risk to unsuspecting players who might sign contracts with Legon Cities, unaware of the transfer ban that would make their registration impossible.
“The league table needs to reflect the forfeiture of matches as per the regulations,” Addo urged. “The GFA should also publish a list of all clubs under transfer bans to protect the interest of players.”
He further called on the Ministry of Sports, the National Sports Authority, and the sporting media to ensure transparency in the enforcement of football regulations.
In conclusion, until they clear their debt in full, Legon Cities are officially prohibited from participating in player transfers for the upcoming season.
Following their relegation to Division One at the end of the 2024/25 Ghana Premier League season, this latest development presents another setback for the club.
