In a move likely to incur the wrath of Fifa, Ghana's government has asked the country's FA boss to withdraw his candidacy for a Caf executive committee position in favour of Abedi Pele. The Ghana FA (GFA) chose its president Kwesi Nyantakyi three months ago to contest next year's elections.
Caf has confirmed Nyantakyi's candidacy for the elections in Sudan.
But the Ministry of Sports has asked the GFA to name the ex-Ghana captain for the position.
"Attached is the CV of Mr. Abedi Ayew Pele," Ghana's minister of sports Akua Sena Dansua said in a letter to the GFA on Thursday.
"He is Ghana's nominee for membership of the Caf executive committee.
"Please take immediate action and report back."
The GFA will meet on Thursday to decide on its next line of action as Caf takes nominations for positions only from the relevant football associations.
Under Fifa rules, national football associations must not be subject to government control.
Similar actions by the governments in Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Kenya have resulted in bans from international football.
Ghana's last executive committee member was the late Sam Okyere but it has been more than two decades since.
Abedi Pele lost in his bid to get on the committee in 2004 when he lost to the Nigerian Amos Adamu.
The latest directive is likely to increase growing tensions between the sports ministry and the GFA over what executives of the football association feel is undue interference from government in the way they run their affairs.
Source: BBC