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16.06.2015 NDC

Gov’t Covers NDC Gurus In World Cup Scandal

By Daily Guide
Govt Covers NDC Gurus In World Cup Scandal
16.06.2015 LISTEN

Government's White Paper on the 2014 World Cup Committee Report appears to have shielded leading NDC party officials who were deeply involved in the organisation of the Black Stars trip to Brazil for the football fiesta.

However, the report seemed to be shepherding Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kwesi Nyantakyi to the gallows.

For instance, the report appeared silent on most of the roles played by Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah, then Minister of Youth and Sports, whose evidence before the three-member Commission generated public uproar.

It was interesting to note that almost all the recommendations of the Dzamefe Commission that directly indicted Afriyie-Ankrah were vetoed by President Mahama in the White Paper.

It would be recalled that immediately Ghana's worst ever performance at a World Cup was over, President Mahama removed Afriyie-Ankrah, who was his campaign manager in the 2012 controversial general elections, and brought him to the Flagstaff House, the seat of government, as Minister of State.

The public perception is that John Mahama's NDC government is only acting on the report because of what is happening in the circles of the Federation of International Football (FIFA) which has been rocked by a bribery and corruption scandal.

Under FIFA rules, there is a clause for non-interference of governments in the organisation of the game and Football Association (FA) chiefs have largely been immune from prosecution; but the indictment of many top FIFA executives by the United States for bribery and corruption appears to have emboldened other governments to follow suit.

Nyantakyi Factor
The White Paper, which was signed by President Mahama on June 1, 2015 after the Dzamefe Committee submitted its work on March 30, 2015, said the BNI should investigate an amount of $200,000.00 paid to the GFA Boss by the state towards a friendly match whilst the Black Stars were preparing for Brazil 2014; and the investigators are required to find out if there was agents' funding of those friendly matches.

The White Paper further said Mr Nyantakyi's unwillingness to account for $577,500.00 was 'unfinished business' and directed the BNI to go after him to bring the matter to a conclusion.

'The commission concluded that the GFA President Kwesi Nyantakyi collected an appearance fee of $577,500.00 for seven management members; but only five of them were at the World Cup,' adding, 'If it turns out that only the five named members of the Management Committee who were in Brazil were paid the appearance fees, then the GFA Chairman should refund the amount of $165,000.00 being the appearance fees of the two Management Committee members who were not in Brazil. The government so directs.'

The report said Mr Nyantakyi should be investigated for receipt of $200,000.00 from the government towards a friendly match in preparation for the 2014 World Cup vis-Ã -vis agent funding, in order to clear any doubt of double funding.

Forensic audit
The report also said that there should be a forensic audit of the accounts of the GFA with respect to claims of losses totalling $1,002,000.00 incurred during matches involving Ghana and Cape Verde, Nigeria and Togo.

According to the report, the claim by the GFA of an amount of $350,000.00 received from the Japan match, which was used to offset the deficit in the Ghana/Cape Verde match, should be investigated.

The BNI would also investigate whether match fees for the Holland/Ghana game and the Ghana/South Korea match were eventually paid by the agent or organiser after the GNPC funded it, as well as how the GFA applied the FIFA World Cup preparation money of $1.5 million and the $2 million the association received from the GNPC vis-Ã -vis match agent funding.

Afriyie-Ankrah escapes
The White Paper vetoed the commission's recommendation that Afriyie-Ankrah should be made to provide the necessary third party vouchers from the transport companies or refund the GH¢15,000.00 reportedly spent.

The government said 'the use of Honour Certificate to account for this type of expense is not acceptable,' as declared by the commission with respect to Afriyie-Ankrah, was untenable.

According to the White Paper, 'government is of the view that the members of the Project Committee are all mature and experienced persons of stature and substance and should, therefore, be held liable for acts and omission for which they were assigned responsibility.'

The report said the former minister should only be held personally liable only in cases where a member of the Project Committee could not be identified as having been in charge of a particular matter for which funds had not been accounted for.

E-volution deals
The report said that any misapplication or misappropriation of funds given by the GNPC to E-volution International on behalf of the ministry to establish fan parks should be refunded by the private company or surcharged to Afriyie-Ankrah.

Unaccounted for expenditure
The government said it had accepted the commission's recommendation that the unaccounted for expenditure of GH¢189,000.00 should be investigated and those found culpable surcharged.

Elvis Fights Back
Meanwhile Mr Afriyie-Ankrah is fighting tooth and nail to save his face from the fallout of the White Paper.

The content of the White Paper has given a number of Ghanaians cause to express concern whether there is a deliberate attempt by government to cover up some officials in view of their roles in the event, with some asking why Mr Afriyie-Ankrah who was sector Minister at the time, has virtually been let off the hook.

This is what seems to have compelled the man who is currently a Minister of State at the Presidency to issue a statement saying, 'I never and did not engage in any act of embezzlement or misappropriation of public funds in and outside the Brazil World Cup saga.'

Instead, Afriyie-Ankrah, who was relieved of his duties as Minister of Youth and Sports immediately after the World Cup, said, 'I rendered full accounts of my stewardship to the relevant authorities with respect to both the funds allocated to the team by government and the funds which I together with my team solicited through an innovative corporate sponsorship drive.'

In view of that, he indicated, 'I am ready to cooperate with the relevant authorities on any other consequential matters arising from the report and the White Paper, just as I did with the Commission of Inquiry.'

In the coming days, Afriyie-Ankrah expressed the hope of getting a copy of the full report of the Justice Dzamefe-led Commission of Inquiry which was submitted to the government three months ago to enable him respond appropriately.

'My legal team and I shall study it thoroughly and carefully together with the White Paper, after which I will make a full statement, where need be, on the Commission's recommendations and the White Paper,' he asserted.

By William Yaw Owusu & Charles Takyi-Boadu

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