The Akufo-Addo government has been angered by the revelations of deep-rooted corruption in Ghana’s football.
This follows the premiere of #Number12, an investigative piece by journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas and his Tigereye PI team, on alleged corruption within the game in the country.
In the video, over 100 referees and match commissioners were seen receiving bribes to fix matches in the Ghana Premier League.
The President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kwesi Nyantakyi was also captured on video allegedly negotiating a business deal through questionable means.
He was also seen in the video attempting to use the name of the President, Vice President and other top government officials to seal the deal.
GFA to be dissolved
Outraged by the revelations, the government in a statement from the Information Ministry said it is taking steps to dissolve the GFA.
“Government is shocked and outrage at the contents of the recently-aired video documentary, which captures the investigation conducted into football administration by the journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, titled ‘Number 12: When Misconduct and Greed become the Norm.’”
“The documentary exposes the gross mal-functioning of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), characterised by widespread fraud, corruption, and bribery. As a result of the pervasive nature of the rot within GFA,” the statement said.
The statement signed by the Minister of Information, Mustapha Hamid said after the dissolution of GFA, the government would announce provisional measures to “govern football activity in the country until a new body is duly formed.”
“Government will communicate these decisions to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA), and engage with them on these developments to chart a way forward for Ghana football,” the statement added.
Involvement of MPs
Two legislators; Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong and Lawra MP, Anthony Karbo, were also seriously tainted by the revelations.
In the video, Kwesi Nyantakyi alleged that Anthony Karbo was his middleman to get potential investors to the presidency.
Anthony Karbo, also the Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways was invited by the CID and interrogated on Monday, May 28, 2018.
There is also the suggestion from Anthony Karbo that Kennedy Agyapong was given control of the Ministry of Transport as a reward.
This is because of the controversial MP’s campaign contributions to the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Kwesi Nyantakyi is also heard telling undercover reporters that the current Transport Minister, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, was the Assin Central MP’s pick.
“So, he [Karbo] mentioned that they wanted to make him [Kennedy Agyapong] a minister because of the contribution he made to the campaign. [Kennedy Agyapong] says he cannot be a minister because he is not a disciplined person to be a minister. But they [the government] gave him a ministry. They created a ministry and gave it to him, and he nominated somebody as the minister. Yes, Ministry of Transport.”
Following these revelations, longtime critic of the GFA and Odododiodio MP, Nii Lantey Vanderpuye called for the government to dissolve the entire hierarchy of the GFA.
He views this as the only solution following the rot uncovered.
Parliamentary probe
Parliament will set up a select committee to investigate the corruption claims.
The official motion was filed by the Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak, and seconded by Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu.
The members of the committee will be decided on tomorrow [Friday].
The nominated Minority members of the committee are Yilo Krobo MP, Magnus Amoatey, Kumbungu MP, Ras Mubarak and Builsa North MP, James Agalga.
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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citinewsroom.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin