The Ghana FA has launched a scathing attack on Zambia claims that they are being frustrated by the Ghanaians in their quest to land directly in Kumasi ahead of Friday's crucial World Cup qualifier.
In a press statement, the GFA hit back at media reports in Zambia as 'utterly false and wrongly impugn and smear Ghana's outstanding hospitality record to visiting teams'.
Exposing the shambolic preparation of the Zambia FA, the GFA said for over one month they offered to help the Zambians but they were dodgy with information on their travel plans.
In the latest 'crude tactic of blemishing the facts' the Zambian media claimed that all their efforts were being thwarted by the Ghanaians but the facts points to the contrary.
FIFA laws require visiting countries to land in the capital city of the hosts before alternative plans are made for onward travel in the country.
Yet the Ghana FA was willing to help the Zambian land in Kumasi but the aviation authorities in Ghana declined the request for various reasons which has surprised the GFA over the reports in the Zambian media.
"The Ghana Football Association (GFA) wishes to express its surprise at some unfortunate and blatantly untrue media reports in Zambia claiming that Ghana is frustrating their attempts to fly directly into Kumasi ahead of Friday's 2014 World Cup qualifier," the Ghana FA said in a statement.
"The GFA wishes to state categorically that these reports are utterly false and wrongly impugn and smear Ghana's outstanding hospitality record to visiting teams.
"We wish to state that over the past two months the GFA has constantly and consistently availed itself to the Zambians to help make their arrival and stay in Ghana smooth.
"Despite constant reminders for the past one month from the Protocol Department of the GFA over their travel plans, FAZ repeatedly refused to divulge details of their travel plans even as late as Wednesday morning."
Zambia’s chartered plane for Friday’s World Cup qualifier game cannot land at Kumasi airport because it cannot take any plane bigger that a 45-sitter ATR 42 turboprop due to construction works currently taking place at the airfield.
Zambia cannot also fly to Kumasi on an evening flight because the airport is closed for night landings at 17:00 due to works at the air field and the airport in Kumasi is not an international airport.
"The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) had a request to land directly in Kumasi turned down by the aviation authorities in Ghana because the Kumasi Airport is not an international airport and it is also undergoing some rehabilitation works," the GFA statement said.
"FAZ president Kalusha Bwalya was in constant touch with his Ghanaian counterpart Kwesi Nyantakyi throughout Wednesday to find a solution for Zambia to land directly in Kumasi but the aviation authorities stood their ground.
"The solution for the Zambians is to arrive in Accra while we help sort out comfortable travel arrangements for them to Kumasi. A direct flight to Accra will be in accordance with the FIFA rule which requires them to fly to the capital city of the hosts, in this case Ghana. "
The GFA insists that despite their constant efforts to help the Zambians over their travel plans for the past one month, they have not been forthcoming with information.
"We wish to state that over the past two months the GFA has constantly and consistently availed itself to the Zambians to help make their arrival and stay in Ghana smooth, the GFA revealed in its statement.
"Despite constant reminders for the past one month from the Protocol Department of the GFA over their travel plans, FAZ repeatedly refused to divulge details of their travel plans even as late as Wednesday morning.
"Our quest to help them secure good hotels in Kumasi also hit the brick wall as they preferred to work on their own plans to secure good accommodation instead.
"Despite all these the GFA is still on the standby to help the Zambian national football team get a smooth arrival and comfortable stay in Ghana but the GFA takes issue with the malicious manipulating of the truth.
"This is a calculated attempt by the Zambian media to taint Ghana football to the world through the crude tactic of blemishing the facts."
Zambia must defeat Ghana to be able to reach the playoff of Africa's World Cup qualifying while the Black Stars just need a draw to advance.
Full Ghana FA statement on Zambia media reports
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) wishes to express its surprise at some unfortunate and blatantly untrue media reports in Zambia claiming that Ghana is frustrating their attempts to fly directly into Kumasi ahead of Friday's 2014 World Cup qualifier.
The reports in the Zambian media also claim that the GFA 'has refused to help Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) and has also refused to help the advance delegation get the desired hotel and training ground in Kumasi.'
The GFA wishes to state categorically that these reports are utterly false and wrongly impugn and smear Ghana's outstanding hospitality record to visiting teams.
The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) had a request to land directly in Kumasi turned down by the aviation authorities in Ghana because the Kumasi Airport is not an international airport and it is also undergoing some rehabilitation works.
FAZ president Kalusha Bwalya was in constant touch with his Ghanaian counterpart Kwesi Nyantakyi throughout Wednesday to find a solution for Zambia to land directly in Kumasi but the aviation authorities stood their ground.
The solution for the Zambians is to arrive in Accra while we help sort out comfortable travel arrangements for them to Kumasi. A direct flight to Accra will be in accordance with the FIFA rule which requires them to fly to the capital city of the hosts, in this case Ghana.
We wish to state that over the past two months the GFA has constantly and consistently availed itself to the Zambians to help make their arrival and stay in Ghana smooth.
Despite constant reminders for the past one month from the Protocol Department of the GFA over their travel plans, FAZ repeatedly refused to divulge details of their travel plans even as late as Wednesday morning.
Our quest to help them secure good hotels in Kumasi also hit the brick wall as they preferred to work on their own plans to secure good accommodation instead.
Despite all these the GFA is still on the standby to help the Zambian national football team get a smooth arrival and comfortable stay in Ghana but the GFA takes issue with the malicious manipulating of the truth.
This is a calculated attempt by the Zambian media to taint Ghana football to the world through the crude tactic of blemishing the facts.