Nicholas Mensah, the winger for Asante Kotoko, has received a one-year ban from the Disciplinary Committee of the Ghana Football Association.
The ban comes as a result of a complaint filed by Aduana Stars to the country’s football governing body regarding Asante Kotoko fielding an ineligible player during a match in the 2022/23 Ghana Premier League season at the Nana Agyemang Badu I Park in Dormaa.
Aduana Stars alleged that Nicholas Mensah, who started the game, was not qualified to play for the Porcupine Warriors.
The complaint from Aduana Stars was based on suspicions that the player in question, Nicholas Mensah, did not have the necessary certification for a name change. Mensah, who now goes by Joshua Kwame Rhule, was previously known as Louis Mensah but has changed his name twice in his football career.
However, the Disciplinary Committee of the Ghana FA dismissed Aduana Stars’ request to penalize Asante Kotoko for illegal player registration.
In their ruling, it was determined that Mensah’s former club, Dumasua Delsanco FC, was responsible for the illegal registration, and the case was referred to the GFA Prosecutor. The committee also stated that Mensah’s player license had been revoked, resulting in an indefinite suspension from football.
Following an investigation, the GFA Prosecutor found Mensah guilty and imposed a one-year ban on him from all football-related activities. The winger is expected to be eligible to return to action on February 10, 2024.
In response to the ruling, Asante Kotoko has issued a statement via the club’s official website, expressing their intention to carefully review the verdict before determining their next course of action.
“Asante Kotoko SC notes the decision of the Disciplinary Committee of the GFA to issue a one-year ban from all football and football-related activity to Nicholas Mensah with a retrospective effect from 10th February 2023.”
“The club will review the verdict before considering our next steps,” Asante Kotoko said in a statement via the club’s website.
Mensah joined Asante Kotoko at the start of the season on a three-year contract from Delsanco FC.
The 20-year-old has appeared in eight league matches for Asante Kotoko this season, scoring three goals.
