Asante Kotoko’s winger, Nicholas Mensah, has been handed a one-year ban from all football activities by the Disciplinary Committee of the Ghana Football Association.
The decision comes in response to a complaint filed by Aduana Stars, after Mensah featured against them in a Ghana Premier League clash earlier this season.
Aduana Stars alleged that Mensah, who started the game, was not eligible to play for the Porcupine Warriors. The club claimed that Mensah, who now goes by Joshua Kwame Rhule, had changed his name without proper authorisation. Prior to his current name change, Mensah was known as Louis Mensah.
However, the Disciplinary Committee rejected Aduana Stars’ request to penalise Asante Kotoko for illegal player registration. The committee stated that the responsibility for the offence lies with Mensah’s former club, Dumasua Delsanco FC. Following an investigation, the GFA Prosecutor found Mensah guilty and imposed a one-year suspension from football activities.
“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,” said Kotoko in response to the ban.
“The club will review the verdict before considering our next steps,” the added.
Mensah joined Kotoko from Delsanco FC at the start of the season on a three-year contract. Before the ban, he scored three goals in eight appearances.
