Youth and Sports Minister Rashid Pelpuo has called on the media to cease negative reportage which he said could self-destruct the chances of the Black Stars ahead of next year's nations and World Cup campaign.
“I want Ghanaians to be united,” he said, adding, “don't harp on unnecessary issues,” he told Hot FM in Accra on Monday.
His comments come after allegations that a member of government's delegation to Cape Town, South Africa for the 2010 World Cup draw had usurped the powers of the ministry to solicit information from FIFA as to the amount of money Ghana stand to accrue from her participation in the World Cup.
Businessman Kojo Bonsu is alleged to have among other things inquired from a FIFA official how much per diem accredited members of the participating countries were going to earn.
He was also said to have asked for a refund of some $6 million, government and the Ghana Football Association had used as preparation for the Stars qualification.
Bonsu is a member of a nine-man government delegation, which included Kwesi Pratt Jnr, Kojo Twum Boafo, Parliamentary sub-committee on Sports ranking member Hon. Arthur, Worlanyo Agrah, Ben Nunoo Mensah sent to monitor events at the draw.
Rashid Pelpuo in reaction confirmed that Kojo Bonsu was indeed a member of the delegation but insisted he as minister did not appoint anybody to solicit information from FIFA on behalf of the government.
"Government has not mandated anybody to make such inquiries. Government has not asked for any refund from anybody” he said, adding, he (Kojo Bonsu) is not an executive of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.”
He conceded though that any individual had every right to seek information from FIFA on any issue, adding, but for Kojo Bonsu's 'impersonation' as a member of the ministry, (which he considered wrong if he indeed did so) his inquisitions did not necessarily cause any fatal injury to the ministry.
He implored the media to refrain from issues that will disunite the country, and called on all Ghanaians to rally behind the Black Stars to “conquer the world.”
He would not be drawn into any seeming power struggle simmering between Kojo Bonsu and the Ghana Football Association.
On the chances of the Black Stars at the World Cup, he said he was happy for the draw as opinions he sought from professionals in the game all pointed to Ghana having a very fair chance of progressiing from the goup stations.
Play the attached audio for excerpts of the interview with Hon Rashid Pelpuo
Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana
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