The CEO of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) has expressed shock that his outfit may have paid for Black Stars friendly matchess even after the Ghana Football Association (GFA) had received payments from agents for the same matches.
Alex Mould, making his first appearance at the ongoing Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Ghana’s participation at the 2014 world cup told the commission on Tuesday that his organisation made payments for accommodation and transportation to the GFA for some of their friendly games.
[contextly_sidebar id=”faMaXtZnEpCkRBxtalSEqH3cFIK5CCln”]This appears to be in contrast with the known practice where all the GFA’s expenses for friendlies are paid for by match agents.
Below are highlights of the interaction between Alex Mould of GNPC and Justice Dzamefe, chairman of the commission;
Dzamefe: Some of these friendly matches are arranged by FIFA agents and they pay the FA for those matches. FA incurs no cost. Agents organize the matches, pay for their flight and accommodation for those friendly matches. But for your rendition you also pay for friendly matches.
Alex: Yes we do.
Dzamefe: so are you aware agents pay for those matches?
Alex: No, I am not aware.
Dzamefe: Are you surprised hearing this today?
Alex: I will be surprised that they will be receiving money for matches that we are paying for. And I think that there should be full disclosure. I don’t think we’d have a problem with it if they were receiving monies because if they gave us an explanation that they were using it for other events and it’s part of their revenue, I think it’s a justification that we would be able to accept. But it think there should be full disclosure.
Dzamefe: If you go into your contract, there is a clause like that, confidentiality. I’m surprised hearing that they’ve never disclosed this to you that the agents pay for these friendly matches.
Moses Foh Amoaning: Lordship, if we can add a caveat. It’s not all the matches. The claim [from the FA] is that the Montenegro and the other matches against Korea, and the other one against Holland, the FA funded itself. We’re yet to investigate that because [the FA] have not come over. And if the state funds were committed for those things, then we are concerned about these same things, that’s why we are probing in respect of these matters.
Death trap
Aziz Haruna Futa, President of Nationwide Supporters Union (NSU) has described the Accra Sports Stadium as a death trap following the recent dilapidated nature of the national stadium.
Haruna Futa, who appeared before the commission also said the stadium is fast collapsing and will soon bring a national calamity, if care is not taken.
“My Lord just go round the Accra Sports Stadium now, and you will see how weak the stadium has become.”
The commission continues sitting on Wednesday.
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By: Gary Al-Smith and Godwin Allotey Akweiteh/citifmonline.com/Ghana