Court Ends 13-Year Amputee Football Dispute as High Court Rules in Favour of NSA and NPC Ghana

Landmark Judgment Reshapes Governance of Amputee Football in Ghana

Accra, Ghana – July 30, 2026 – One of Ghana’s longest-running sports governance disputes has finally been brought to an end after the High Court ruled in favour of the National Sports Authority (NSA) and the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) Ghana (NPC Ghana), bringing closure to a legal battle that has spanned more than 13 years.

The landmark judgment, delivered by Justice Jerome Noble-Nkrumah, JA, at Commercial Court 6 in Accra, affirmed the authority of the NSA and NPC Ghana over the governance and recognition of amputee football within Ghana’s national sports framework.

In the case of Ghana Amputee Football Federation v. National Sports Authority & Others, the Court dismissed the plaintiffs’ claims in their entirety, concluding that the evidence presented by the National Sports Authority and NPC Ghana was more credible and probable. The Court subsequently granted the reliefs sought in the defendants’ counterclaim.

As part of the ruling, the Court awarded GH¢60,000 in costs to each of the National Sports Authority and NPC Ghana, despite the two institutions having sought GH¢250,000 and GH¢200,000 respectively.

In one of the most significant aspects of the judgment, the Court granted perpetual orders affecting the Ghana Amputee Football Federation (GAFF) and its officials—Francis Adjetey Sowah, Charles Narh Teye, John Kuku Dsane, Philip Cecil Richter and Benjamin Charles Armah—in accordance with the terms of the judgment, preventing them from associating themselves with amputee sport in Ghana.

 

The ruling effectively concludes a dispute that has shaped the administration of amputee football in Ghana since 2013–2014, when disagreements first emerged over which institution held the lawful mandate to govern the sport.

Over the years, the disagreement evolved into one of Ghana’s most protracted sports governance cases, involving multiple court proceedings, competing institutional claims, government intervention and correspondence with international sporting bodies.

At the heart of the litigation were questions surrounding the legal mandate to administer amputee football, the recognition of competing organisations, the legitimacy of governance structures and elections, and the authority of Ghana’s national sports institutions under the country’s sports governance framework.

Throughout the proceedings, the National Sports Authority and NPC Ghana consistently maintained that amputee football falls within Ghana’s recognised national sports governance architecture.

Court records further revealed that while the substantive case remained pending, the Commercial Division of the High Court directed the then Ministry of Youth and Sports to establish measures that would ensure Ghana’s continued participation in international amputee football competitions.

Following submissions by the Ministry, the Court approved a structured roadmap that enabled Ghana to compete at the Amputee Football World Cup while preserving the integrity of the ongoing litigation. The implementation of that roadmap was supervised by the Ministry, with recognised responsibilities assigned to the NPC Ghana, led by President Samson Deen.

The judgment is expected to serve as a major milestone in Ghana’s sports governance landscape. By bringing an end to years of uncertainty over institutional authority, the ruling provides greater administrative clarity, strengthens the country’s sports governance framework and allows stakeholders to refocus their efforts on athlete development, improved governance and international competitiveness.

With the legal battle now over, attention is expected to shift from courtroom proceedings to rebuilding amputee football in Ghana, strengthening governance structures and creating a united platform that will enhance opportunities for Ghanaian amputee footballers both locally and internationally.

A detailed legal analysis of the High Court’s judgment and its wider implications for sports governance in Ghana is expected after the full written decision has been reviewed.