Ghana Football Association (GFA) Club Licensing Manager Esme Mends has explained that the licensing process for clubs is a continuous exercise, with teams required to meet a range of criteria before receiving approval to compete.
Mends said the process begins immediately after one season ends, allowing the GFA to assess clubs and review their compliance with the various requirements ahead of the new campaign.
“Club licensing is a year-round process that begins immediately after the season ends, with clubs assessed across various criteria before approvals are granted.” Esme Mends, Club Licensing Manager
According to Mends, clubs must fulfil all the required criteria before a licence can be issued.
He explained that his office conducts a detailed review of the documentation submitted by clubs before cases are forwarded to the First Instance Board (FIB) for a final decision.
“All criteria must be met before a licence is issued, and I review all the documents before it goes to the FIB; that’s the First Instance Board. They sit and make a decision on whether to give approval or not based on the documents reviewed.”
While several clubs have completed the process, Mends revealed that Ashanti Gold have currently been rejected, although the club still has the right to appeal the decision.
“A lot have been approved, but it looks like Ashanti Gold this season has been rejected for now.
However, Mends stressed that the initial rejection does not necessarily mean Ashanti Gold failed to meet all the requirements.
He explained that the club may have been unable to provide certain documents during the review process, but they are working with the club to resolve the outstanding issues.
“They have the right to appeal, but it doesn’t mean that they didn’t do the right things. Maybe there were some documents they couldn’t provide during the review, but it doesn’t mean they don’t have the documentation, so we are working to resolve it.”
With the new season approaching, Ashanti Gold’s appeal and efforts to address the outstanding requirements will determine whether the club can secure the necessary licence to participate.
The 2026/27 Ghana Premier League is scheduled to begin on September 5.
