Ex-Kotoko Coach in prison custody

From Robert Kyei-Gyau, Kumasi

A Kumasi Circuit Tribunal chaired by Mr. Joseph A. Abanga on Friday, December 24, remanded Abubakari Ouattara, former head coach of Kumasi Asante Kotoko FC, in prison custody.

Ouattara, who is already standing trial at the same tribunal for fraud, has been freshly charged on two counts of defrauding by false pretences. To make matters worse for the former Asante Kotoko head coach, his own brother, Issah Kaleepha, a senior industrial relations officer of the Ashanti GPRTU who stood surety for his bail earlier withdrew his surety. Mr. Kaleepha told the Tribunal that Ouattara was about to abscond by travelling abroad and therefore he could not, under the circumstance, stand surety for his release any longer.

Mr. Abanga consequently remanded Ouattara in prison custody to reappear on Thurday, December 30.

Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Regina Kesewah said the two complainants, Salamatu Adam and Elder Stephen Opoku Afriyie, are a seamstress and an auto electrician respectively.

The prosecutor said somewhere in February Ouattara gave a lift to the first complainant, Salamatu Adam, and in the course of their conversation she expressed her desire to travel outside the country.

Ouattata then revealed to Salamatu that one Oheneba Charles, an official of the Ghana Football Association, was organising supporters for the national women's football team, the Black Queens, to travel to the U.S.A. Chief Inspector Kesewah said Ouattara demanded and duly received an amount of ¢3 million from Salamatu to enable him include her in the list of people who would be going to the U.S.A. to support the Black Queens.

Salamatu after paying the money later informed the second complainant, Elder Stephen Opoku Afriyie, about what had transpired between her and Coach Ouattara. She thereafter introduced Ouattara to Elder Opoku Afriyie. According to the prosecution, Ouattara promised sending Elder Opoku Afriyie's three children to Europe and demanded an amount of ¢3 million for each, totalling ¢9 million which the second complainant duly paid to Ouattara.

The prosecutor said Ouattara later went to Elder Opoku Afriyie and collected US 1,500 from him to secure a football trials for one of his sons in Italy.

Once again Ouattara returned to the second complainant and demanded for and received an amount of ¢5,270,000 for further processing of the travelling documents for the three children, Chief Inspector Kesewah said. According to the prosecution, Ouattara, after receiving all these monies, failed to honour his promise of sending Salamatu and the three children of Elder Opoku Friyie to their various destinations in U.S.A. and Europe respectively. The complainants confronted Quattara for a refund of their monies but he refused to pay and they informed Asante Kotoko FC who paid ¢1 million and ¢3 million to Salamatu and Elder Opoku Afriyie respectively. The club later told complainants that they were no longer prepared to pay any more moneys in respect of Coach Abubakari Ouattara and advised that they could take legal action for a refund of their monies. Ouattara is said to have issue a post-dated cheque covering an amount of ¢10.5 million to be cashed on December 10 to the complainants. However, Ouattata on December 9 stopped the complainants from going to the bank to cash the cheque because he had no money there, the prosecutor said.

Chief Inspector Kesewah said Ouattara was consequently put before the tribunal and charged for the offence, to which he pleaded not guilty.