A High Court ruling in Accra has dealt a major setback to the Ghana Amputee Football Federation (GAFF) after the court rejected its claims to exclusive authority over the administration of amputee football in Ghana.
The judgment, delivered on July 30, 2026, by Justice Jerome Noble-Nkrumah at the Commercial Division of the High Court, followed a long-running legal dispute between GAFF and the National Paralympic Committee of Ghana (NPC-Ghana).
The court ruled in favour of NPC-Ghana on its counterclaim and issued a permanent injunction preventing GAFF and those acting through it from presenting the federation as the lawful body responsible for overseeing amputee football in the country.
The judgment also referred to correspondence from the World Amputee Football Federation (WAFF) that documented lifetime bans involving three people associated with the dispute.
Court Judgment References Lifetime Bans Against Three Individuals
One important part of the ruling appears on page 21, where the court examined an email sent by WAFF on September 25, 2019.
According to the judgment, the email referred to lifetime bans from amputee football against Francis Adjetey Sowah, Charles Narh and Benjamin Armah over ethical breaches.
However, the judgment’s reference to the bans must be distinguished from the court orders issued in the case. The lifetime bans were recorded in correspondence considered by the court, while the permanent injunction directly concerned GAFF’s claim to lawful oversight of amputee football in Ghana.
Court Examines Francis Adjetey Sowah’s Conduct
The judge also considered evidence relating to Francis Adjetey Sowah and his activities within the sport’s administration.
According to the judgment, evidence showed that Sowah had been promoting GAFF’s affairs while serving as an officer of the Ghana Amputee Football Association. The court described the activity as having been carried out “surreptitiously” before it was discovered and he was removed.
The judge examined letters bearing Sowah’s signature and printed on the association’s letterhead, including correspondence requesting equipment, logistical support and sponsorship.
The court compared these documents with his later use of GAFF letterhead while serving as the federation’s president. The evidence, according to the judgment, weakened GAFF’s argument that it was the only recognised authority responsible for amputee football in Ghana.
These findings formed part of the court’s wider assessment of the federation’s claim to exclusive control of the sport.
GAFF’s Original Objectives Also Examined
The court also considered GAFF’s incorporation history, particularly its stated objectives when it was established in 2009.
A witness for the federation acknowledged that its original objectives did not include organising, administering and managing amputee football. Those responsibilities were added to the objectives in 2014, according to the judgment.
The judge considered this evidence alongside the information about Sowah’s roles in the organisations. These issues further weakened GAFF’s claim that it was entitled to exclusive responsibility for the sport.
The court ultimately rejected GAFF’s claims and granted relief to NPC-Ghana on its counterclaim.
Permanent Injunction Restricts GAFF’s Claims
The main institutional outcome of the judgment is a permanent injunction preventing GAFF, including its servants, agents, assigns or privies, from presenting itself as the lawful oversight body for amputee football in Ghana.
The judgment cited the federation’s lack of recognition from the National Sports Authority, NPC-Ghana and WAFF as part of the reasons considered by the court.
GAFF had argued that its history of official engagement supported its claim to recognition and that amputee football should not fall under NPC-Ghana. However, the court did not accept its case.
The judge noted that the institutional placement of the sport could be considered further in the future, but this observation did not change the final outcome of the proceedings.
Judgment Names Three Individuals in Lifetime-Ban Correspondence
John Kuuku Dsani and Philip Richter have also appeared in public reporting about the wider dispute. However, the specific passage in the judgment that refers to lifetime bans names only Francis Adjetey Sowah, Charles Narh and Benjamin Armah.
The passage does not establish separate lifetime bans against all five individuals mentioned in the broader reporting.
The ruling marks a significant development in the dispute over who has the legal authority to oversee amputee football in Ghana. By rejecting GAFF’s claims and granting NPC-Ghana relief, the court has placed a permanent legal restriction on the federation’s ability to present itself as the country’s lawful oversight body.
The judgment has also drawn attention to the WAFF correspondence concerning the three lifetime bans and the questions surrounding the sport’s administration.
The decision comes as Ghana’s Black Challenge prepare for the WAFF 2026 Amputee World Cup, scheduled to take place in Mexico in November. The ruling adds another important development to the ongoing discussion about recognition, leadership and the administration of amputee football in the country.
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