GFA Legacy Debt: Kwesi Nyantakyi And Dr Kofi Amoah Must Be Queried - Nana Fitz

Outspoken football administrator, Nana Fitz has insisted that former Ghana Football Association (GFA) president, Kwesi Nyantakyi and Dr Kofi Amoah, the chairman of the Normalization Committee must be queried on the legacy debt of the FA.

Following a meeting held with the clubs last week Friday, the Kurt Okraku's led administration revealed they have inherited GHS 12.8 million.

Nana Fitz

• Breakdown of the debt

The legacy debt, divided into dollar and cedi components, is made up of $470,700.00 (GHS 2,730,060) and GHS 10,079,440.00.

The GFA disclosed the figures to club executives last week in the Kurt Okraku administration’s attempts to share the GFA’s financial situation with members.

The GFA also mentioned West Head, an agency that claimed to have brokered the deal between the FA and GNPC leading to a court battle, as one of the institutions they owe. The amount to be paid as the commission is $1.4 million.

For the current broadcast rights holder, StarTimes, the amount owed them was left blank.

A further breakdown of the debt reveals the GFA owes debt to one Kizito Beyuo ($35,000), the arbitrator of the GFA and GLO impasse; former Black Stars coach, Kwasi Appiah ($180,000); two vehicles purchased in 2017 ($100,000); the land on which the GFA secretariat is cited (GHS 450,000); and many others.

It is unclear why the debt owed Kwesi Appiah is included as a liability of the GFA when the Ministry of Youth and Sports or a sponsor (GNPC in the past) pays the Black Stars coaches.

Also conspicuously missing are the arrears owed the rest of Kwesi Appiah’s backroom staff (Ibrahim Tanko, Stephen Appiah, Richard Kingson) who are all owed 3 months salaries and bonuses for two games.

Two travel and tour companies, Travel Matters and Kenpong Travel and Tours, are owed $293,000 and GHS 26,000 respectively for providing airline services to national teams.

The document also had GH¢ 1.7 million and GH¢ 480,000 owed referees and match Commissioners respectively, with only GH¢ 300,000 and GH¢ 16,510 paid to these two bodies.

T.T Ustay, a company engaged to work on the FIFA Goal project at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence is owed GH¢ 7.6 million including interest, whilst Care Freight Shipping Agency is owed a little over GH¢ 151,000.

The GFA also owes a company called Henqook, for the purchase of a TV set for the association’s boardroom.

However, according to the veteran football administrator, it would be unfair if th past administration and the Normalization Committee don't provide answers on how the debt emerged.

According to him, whoever is found guilty must be sentenced to jail.

"First of all, I must say that the report is completely fraud," he told Happy FM.

"Kurt Okraku was part of the past administration so how did this debt emerge?

"Members of the past administration are still around and for me, they must be queried.

"How can a whole Football Association incur such debt? Kwesi Nyantakyi and Dr Kofi Amoah must give us answers and whoever is found guilty must be sentenced to jail," he added.

Dr Kofi Amoah
Nana Fitz also reiterated that government must set up independent auditors to audits the accounts of the Ghana Football Association (GFA).

"I am calling on the government to set up an independent body to audit the accounts of the GFA because government is in charge of paying Black Stars coach so why have the FA captured $180,000 as a debt they must pay to Kwesi Appiah?

"It does not sound right to me. The FA needs to come clean because I don't believe what they are telling the public," he added.