The amount according to the Auditor General’s report, was from financial weaknesses in cash, tax, payroll, procurement, rent and contract irregularities as well as outstanding debts and loans.

The Health Ministry according to the report, recorded the highest financial irregularity of more than Ghc25 million.

[contextly_sidebar id=”cifpVgx0l8BJaHeinK2g6IcoQ9SVIoLC”]Payroll irregularities contributed significantly to the figure, as almost Ghc600, 000 unearned salaries were paid.

On the payroll irregularities, the report said “This was due mainly to payments of unearned salaries to separated staff, as a result of delays in deleting their names from the payroll, and delay in transferring unclaimed pensions and salaries to government chest by the banks.”

The Auditor General further recommended that, coordination between Finance and Human Resource Units within MDAs be intensified for prevention of such situations “as well as recovery of unearned salaries paid to unauthorized personnel.”

The Deputy Minister for Health, Kingsley Aboagye Gyadu, in a Citi News interview after the hearing on Wednesday, said that every ministry will device a mechanism to retrieve all such monies.

“This issue of unearned salary and infractions are almost always common. The unearned salaries are losses to the state, but unsupported payments meant that when the auditors were there, they didn’t see the supporting documents. When we are talking about supporting documents we mean invoices, vouchers, receipts were not provided to the auditors at the time they were doing the audit. But like we said, subsequently they have been provided, the auditors have looked at it and they are okay.”

“With regards to the unearned salaries, I’m going to meet the facilities that had that problem; we will find a way of getting the people to pay back to the government,” he added.

Ghana loses millions yearly

Reports from the Auditor General’s Department had shown that the country loses millions every year through the activities of MDAs, as well as the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies.

This compelled pressure group, OccupyGhana, to drag the Auditor General to the Supreme Court for an order, directing the Auditor General to surcharge persons who cause such financial infractions.

According to Occupy Ghana, a thorough study of the Auditor General’s report revealed that, between 2003 and 2014, the total losses the state incurred in “irregularities” arising from Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies was about GH¢2,448,968,912.29.

Retrieve ‘looted’ state cash – Supreme Court orders Auditor General

The Supreme Court in June 2017, ordered the Auditor General to, with immediate effect; begin surcharging persons found to have misappropriated monies belonging to the state.

By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey & Caleb Kudah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Ghc500m wasted by MDAs on unearned salaries, others – Report appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

A member of the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC), Mr. Oteng Arthur says that the Ghana Football Association is accountable to the state aside the world football governing body, FIFA.

Oteng-Arthur, Vice Chair of the PIAC, was speaking to the Presidential Commission of Inquiry looking into Ghana’s World Cup fiasco on Thursday, which was day 22 of the sittings.

The PIAC is a sub-committee of the Ghana Football Association.

“Demanding accountability from the FA is not interference because it is enshrined in the statutes of Fifa,” he said, supporting his claim with a Fifa document titled Standard Cooperation Agreement of Fifa.

Oteng-Arthur educated the gallery on the work of the PIAC as a body ensuring that the public is satisfied with the operations of state-run bodies in various sectors.

[contextly_sidebar id=”xYbAGDIWszcQRgTFbN08seYAS8tpvsXi”]

Any legal foundations?

The Vice Chair told the Commission that the GFA, aside Fifa, could answer questions from the central government and that his assertion was based on a legal guideline from Fifa.

Here is an interaction between himself and counsel for the commission, Jonathan Acquah.

Acquah: “The general impression is that the GFA is an autonomous body and accountable to only FIFA and no other body. You told the Commision that you are a football administrator. Will you say that it is the true position that the GFA is accountable to only FIFA and not to anybody else?”

Oteng Arthur: “My Lord, that is not true.”

Acquah: “Why would you say that?”

Oteng Arthur: “FIFA has areas where the FA is accountable to it and where it is accountable to the state.”

Acquah: “What is your point of reference? What document or statute or anything makes you take this position?”

Oteng Arthur: “My Lord, I came across it in a FIFA document titled ‘Protocol Agreement’ that requires the various football associations and their governments to sign and determine the roles that FIFA and governments can play in the administration of football.

Acquah: “You just told the Commission that FA is not only accountable to FIFA but to government too. That is the position you just espoused.”

Oteng Arthur: “Yes, my Lord.”

Acquah: “You say you have a document that makes you take that position. What provisions of that document makes you take that position?”

Oteng Arthur: “My Lord, when it comes to Section 4 article 31, subsection 1, that portion talks about finance and it  reads: ‘the further object of this agreement is to ensure good management and transparency in the use of financial subsidies and subsidies in kind granted to the association by FIFA, the relevant confederation and any other sporting authority as well as government and local authorities.”

Justice Dzamefe: “What does it mean?”

Oteng Arthur: “It means that where there are subsidies granted to the FA, then the FA is bound by the agreement it signed to ensure good management and transparency in the handling of the finances.”

Oteng Arthur also stated that Article 39 of the Protocol Agreement highlights that the FA and government should meet annually to discuss the finances of the FA and where possible, a FIFA official could be invited to the discussions.

Justice Dzamefe inquired if the Ghana Football Association was aware of this provision but Mr. Oteng Arthur could not confirm.

However, the PIAC member revealed that the directive was established by FIFA in 2007 and was ratified a year later.

Oteng-Arthur, owner of a division two-team called Highlanders FC, also told the Commission that the PIAC, after its inauguration in 2011, had onlt two meetings, a claim that sharply contradicted an earlier testimony by the chairman of the PIAC, Aloysius Dankabe.

Infighting, divide and rule

The Commission of Inquiry also heard how infighting and turf wars crippled the ability of the PIAC to defend the public’s interest in how football in Ghana is run.

Professor Aloysius Dankabe, who also doubles as an Executive Member of the  Ghana Football Association,  told the commission that the PIAC held a series of meetings, which was contrary to what his Vice Chair said later.

He admitted also that the PAIC thus was unable to fulfil its role in over five major football tournaments, including in the last World Cup in Brazil.

This testimony was key because in over two weeks of sittings, the commission has traced a pattern of wastefulness of public funds, operational negligence, and little due diligence  poor management in the entire Brazil 2014 effort by the country.

Professor Dankabe sourced the role of the PIAC from Article 70 of the Football Association Statutes which include being able to “liaise with the Ministry responsible for sports in the provision of funds by government for the purposes of building the national football teams.”

The PIAC was formed in 2010 with the input of football legend Abedi Pele and legal luminaries as Ernest Thompson (of Hearts of Oak fame), Thaddeus Sory and Oteng Arthur.

Dankabe told the shocked commission that the PIAC had no supporting staff, no secretariat and did not even know who to liaise with between the Ministry of Finance, Sports and the GFA.

This meant that the statutory role which is to ensure that they scrutinize football policies relating to facilities, funding and technical development of the game was left completely at the mercy of politicking.

The five member PAIC committee, it was heard, had three GFA appointees and two government appointees.

But they only met once in 2012.

The key “bone of contention”, as the Professor put it was bickering over “who should have the bigger stake”. This haggling, Dankabe confirmed with hesitance, was between the FA  and the government.

Other matters

Aside the Public Interest Committee, popular national team follower, Abraham Boakye, also known as “One Man Supporter also appeared before the Commission to answer questions on supporters and their activities in relation to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

–

By: Nathan Quao and Gary Al-Smith/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @nathanquao2211

Follow @garyalsmith

The post “GFA is accountable to Ghana gov’t too”- Fifa document confirms appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Citi Sports understands that the Ghana FA will make an appearance, but it’s not clear what day exactly.

But we may also see a reappearance of Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, as he seeks to contest some damaging claims made against his administration.

Since the former sports minister made his appearance at the commission a fortnight, ago, the head of the Brazil 2014 secretariat, Fred Darko was first to appear and contradict him.

Fred Darko had said that each of the three accredited caterers got $17,200 in honorarium payments, which seemed to have contradicted Elvis Ankrah’s claim of an initial $2,000.

That said, the commission has since heard that Afriyie Ankrah did indeed give each caterer an initial $2,000.

Also problematic for Mr Ankrah was the appearance, last week, of the three caterers themselves.

But according to information gathered by Citi Sports, Elvis Ankrah will seek to clear the air on certain key issues when he appears.

First of all, the caterers agreed with the Brazil 2014 commission to take $35 per head in Ghana before leaving for Brazil.

According to our information, all three caterers – Ambar Foods, Monees Catering and Kenkey Boutique – were all given the latitude to shop in 3 Brazilian supermarkets, accompanied by one Afua Adoboe as a facilitator.

Citi Sports also understands that as several people have testified to the commission, none of them was allowed bring their own ingredients, as agreed.

After the Black Stars were eliminated in Brazil, Citi Sports understands that each of the caterers was then given $17,200, which in addition to the $2,000 earlier given, totaled $19,200.

Our information also indicates that the airfare for all three caterers was paid for by the secretariat, despite the fact that Mrs Quashigah did not state this information in her testimony last week.

–

By: Gary Al-Smith/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @garyalsmith

The post Brazil 2014 inquiry: What to expect when Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah reappears appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

ACCRA – Samuel Joachim Bokeem was the play of the day at Thursday’s sittings of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Brazil 2014, but he was by no means the headline-grabber.

That honour would go to Fred Darko, again, who contradicted evidence presented by his boss, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah for the second day running.

There was also an uneventful appearance by a rep from uniBank, and a brief cameo by Travel Matters, one of the agencies mandated to ferry supporters to the tournament.

Fred Darko says the state created fan parks with no intention of making $$. “It was all about expenditure?” “Yes.” pic.twitter.com/yNZuRBvygW

— Gary Al-Smith (@garyalsmith) August 28, 2014

Contempt clarified

Bokeem, 35, a sports journalist with Kumasi-based Hello FM was hauled before the commission looking scared.

“So it is you, eh?” began Justice Senyo Dzamefe. Bokeem smiled, confidently, not knowing what was coming.

“Play the tape,” the justice commanded the bailiff.

The court began hearing an August 7 audio recording of Bokeem, as he gave his thoughts of the commission’s work on his sports program.

“This commission that has been set up has just been set up to waste money,” he was heard saying in his native tongue, Akan.

He had gone on, in the words of commission member Moses Foh-Amoaning, “running down the commission”.

Bokeem, in the tape, said: “Fifa takes a dim view of these [hearings] and maybe a bipartisan committee to look into what happened in Brazil would have been better.

“We all saw what and heard happened in Brazil. And once Fifa have said they don’t like these things that will interfere with our football, we don’t need this.”

As Foh-Amoaning pointed out later, these comments by Bokeem had been made barely half an hour after a media training workshop had been held.

The lawyer explained: “We had actually been in Kumasi to talk about these same things. Ironically, this man’s station had carried the seminar live, so I struggle to understand why he would have done this.”

Bokeem was also heard saying on the tape: “[The commission] will definitely meet at a venue and they will be served with food and water. They are in Kumasi, as we speak, for a sitting and they will be lodged at a place like the Golden Tulip Hotel.

“All these are expense will be borne by the state. But what will be the importance of these things if people who were directly like Sulley Muntari, Kwesi Nyantakyi or Ibrahim Saane Daara cannot be called to testify? Then we would have been better of not setting the Commission in the first place.”

“HND holder”

Justice Senyo Dzamefe was upset at the comments, especially at the insinuation that the commission wasted taxpayers’ money.

Dzamefe: “What is your qualification?”

“HND, my lord. HND Marketing.”

“Did you see any commissioner sleeping [at the Golden Tulip Hotel]?”

“I, for one, I was not even in Kumasi that day and no one here even slept there.”

Foh-Amoaning also spoke of the “condescending and derogatory manner” in which Bokeem spoke, adding that the subsequent phone-in segment was equally as bad.

The General Manager of Hello FM was also present, and he pleaded for Bokeem, who infuriated the commission further with his “unrepentant attitude”, in Dzamefe’s words.

Other sports journalists present at the sittings, mainly Ernest Bruce-Smith of Peace FM (a sister station of Hello FM) led the charge to get the bench to forgive the now-shaking Bokeem.

The apology

“On that particular day, My Lord, my lay man’s opinion was way off what was acceptable and I would like to stand right before this honourable Commission to apologise for my comments,” Bokeem started.

“Ever since the Commission started its sittings, I have watched and studied what it has been doing and I have been taught to be more responsible with my comments. I would like to apologise for my comments.”

Foh Amoaning, a veteran media practitioner of over four decades standing, called on his colleagues not to “lose our value [for] we cannot call politicians to order and ask them the needed questions and we must avoid the irresponsible brand of journalism this is hurting us now.”

“In my 40 years of working in the media, I had not heard profanity being used on air but it is becoming a trend and I have been complaining about this.”

Bokeem was eventually let off, charged not to repeat his conduct and asked to produce a written apology.

Fred Darko gives himself 7/10 for his role as boss of Brazil 2014 secretariat. “Above average. We worked very hard and did our best.”

— Gary Al-Smith (@garyalsmith) August 28, 2014

Darko contradicts Ankrah, again

But long before the eventful Bokeem-Gate, the dock had been occupied by Fred Darko at the start of the day’s sittings.

Darko further contradicted his evidence from Wednesday, when he had said that the 15 selected ambassadors had been paid $200 per diem daily. Former sports minister Elvis Afriyie Ankrah had also mentioned the same amount.

However, the commission got to know that $250 was the correct amount.

Lack of due diligence

Darko confirmed what Afriyie Ankrah had said last week, that the three agencies mandated to transport supporters to Brazil had not gone through rigorous checks.

But that was not the bone of contention.

It emerged that even before the state had, in March, given these three companies the mandate to airlift supporters, Darko and other members of the World Cup secretariat had already been to Brazil to check for the same things.

This was in February.

Justice Dzamefe: “So, it means before you had asked [the travel and tour companies] to look for hotel accommodation for supporters [in March], you already had booked a place [on your first trip to Brazil a month before]?”

Fred: “We hadn’t booked. We were looking for a place, my lord.”

“So when did you book the place?”

“After the second recce, my Lord.”

The commission felt Darko could have employed far more efficient and cost-effective measures throughout the planning phase.

Financial loss to the state?

Another highlight was about exhibition centers, which were put in place in Brazil as cultural exporting depots.

It emerged that state funds were used to build these centers for Ghanaians to buy and sell. But the commission heard that Darko and his team did not develop a revenue-generating business model.

The commission heard that the ministry of youth and sports collapsed its initial idea of making profits from planned exhibition centers upon realization that the time to do so was too short.

As a result, the state paid for supporters’ flights, supporters’ accommodation to and from Brazil, but failed to surcharge them.

Foh-Amoaning: “Did you create a stand for the Ghana supporters who [flew in] their artifacts [from Ghana to Brazil for free]?”

Fred: “Yes. The space had already been acquired already by us.”

“And they brought their artifacts?”

“Yes.”

“And they sold [these artifacts they had brought]?”

“Yes.”

“And they made their money?”

“Yes.”

“And went away?”

“Yes.”

“With all of it?”

“That was the general idea, yes my lord.”

This exasperated Foh-Amoaning, who then pointed out that it was very imprudent for the state to have “sold Ghana”, as Darko continuously stressed, “without making any money at all to cover the cost of what it cost you to sell.”

Conflict of interest wahala.Evolution got a deal from the secretariat to run the World Cup fan parks.

— Godfred Akoto Boafo (@eastsportsman) August 28, 2014

Conflict of interest

Darko, the Project Coordinator for Ghana’s 2014 World Cup secretariat, has admitted to a conflict of interest in the awarding of a contract to his own company, E-volution International.

Darko, who said he is the managing director of the said company, confessed this under questioning from the Chairman of the Brazil 2014 Commission of Inquiry on Thursday.

Justice Senyo Dzamefe and the two other members of the commission forced Darko to reveal that his company won a bid to organise fan parks around the country during the tournament.

“Do you remember that yesterday I asked you in what capacity you were appointed to head this secretariat? And do you remember you said it was you and not E-volution?” the chairman inquired.

“Yes, my lord. I said I was appointed in my own capacity as Fred Darko,” the project coordinator said.

Darko tried to explain that the involvement of his company came much later in his role, when the chance came up to organise fan parks for headline sponsor of the national team, GNPC.

But he was insistent that the role E-volution played was as a private initiative, separate from his functions as a coordinator.

“My lord, I did not hide my intention to bid from the other members of the committee or the sports minister [Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah].”

Darko revealed that eight other companies had also bid for the rights to organise the fan parks.

“The cat is out of the bag now!” Justice Dzamefeh deadpanned.

Commission member Moses Foh-Amoaning went on: “But you are a professional and you should know that this is basic practice. Quite clearly in your capacity there was a clear conflict of interest.”

The sitting resumes on Monday, September 1.

–

By: Gary Al-Smith/Citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @garyalsmith

Follow @garyalsmith

The post Darko contradicts Ankrah testimony again; says Ghana made no money from exhibition centres appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

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After the tears of last week, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah was in total control of himself on Monday at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the happenings of Brazil 2014.

The former minister confronted the commissioners, tackled unfriendly media reportage and pursued an agenda against his detractors.

Tears were very far away on day eight of the hearings.

Who sent back the cash?

Almost 9 million Ghana cedis was given to the Sports Ministry for preparations for the Brazil 2014 effort, and despite many public rumours to the contrary, the former minister clarified that over four million cedis is still available.

“So this is from the ministry – the money which was left. We were given almost nine million [cedis] for the tournament. We didn’t use all of it. So up to the point where we got to and the monies we used, this is the balance left: 4,444,053 [cedis].”

However, the commission wanted to know the status of a mysterious return of 500,000 cedis.

The chairman of the commission hinted that those monies had been refunded after the commission was set up.

“You have no idea that some monies have been refunded – paid back – to the bank after this commission was set up?”

“My Lord,” came the reply from the former sports minister, “I don’t. This is all that I know. At the point I finished, this is all the information I have.”

Ladies and gentlemen: the spectacles are off from Elvis’ eyes. Questioning gets a bit more pointed and heated. pic.twitter.com/c13DlRkEHS

— Gary Al-Smith (@garyalsmith) August 25, 2014

Elvis demands right to fairness

Not long after the sitting started at 10am, the ex-minister’s spectacles came off.

He was not happy.

Much of the first two hours had been spent going through expenses made by the Brazil 2014 planning committee, notably in areas of air travel, accommodation and tickets.

Moses Foh-Amoaning, member of the three-man commission, in going through the notes portion of the accounts Afriyie-Ankrah had tendered in as evidence, consistently quoted figures in old Ghana cedis.

“My lord, we no longer use old Ghana cedis. That creates the impression that it is a very huhudious [astronomical] amount. That’s what the media has been doing and I’m gonna make a complaint about that. You know, they change the figures into billions and make it look [more than it looks]. I don’t think it is fair.”

Later, the issues of interpretation of accounts came up again and Afriyie Ankrah had cause to question the style of interrogation of the commissioners.

Foh-Amoaning had been zeroing in on figures the former youth and sports minister seemed unsure of, because (as Elvis said) he did not want to “say something that is not very concrete” and told the commissioners that the “appropriate committee chairmen to answer.”

Foh-Amoaning went on to point out, again, that the figures being mentioned as having been expended by the sports ministry sounded frightening to the ordinary Ghanaian, especially when thought of in old cedis.

“If the documents are examined, and there are questions and those who did it directly are asked and are not able to answer, then I can be asked. This is the difficulty I have.”

Moses Foh-Amoaning responded wryly: “You’re virtually telling us what we should do. Anyway, I don’t agree with you…”

Elvis cut in: “No, my lord! With respect, you just said that this is a court of law whose findings are equivalent to the judgment of a court. My life, my rights [and] everything is at stake here so when I feel strongly about something I believe I should put it out there.”

Elvis hits back at the commissioners. Subtly accuses them of unfairness to him in framing questions. “It creates a certain -ve impression”

— Gary Al-Smith (@garyalsmith) August 25, 2014

Get Songo here!

It was clear that media reportage sat big on the former minister’s mind, as he constantly referred to what he felt was unfair coverage of the proceedings.

Monday’s edition of the Herald newspaper had carried a story imputing wrongdoing by deception from Afriyie Ankrah, and he plead with the commission to invite the paper’s editor to prove the allegation.

The paper alleged that the breakdown of the expenses offered by the former minister last week were incorrect and presented to deceive the general public.

It also repeated rumours that strongly linked the former sports minister in sexual escapades in Brazil with popular female musician, Becca.

And then he rounded on popular radio show host from Asempa FM.

“My Lord all kinds of things have been reported about me in the media including this report. There is a radio station with a presenter named Fireman and he has alleged that I have spent money even before the budget was approved. All these people should be brought before the Commission to share their evidence,” Afriyie Ankrah said.

Foh-Amoaning has been a known critic of the presenter in question, Patrick Osei Agyemang, who goes by the alias Countryman Songo.

Who takes blame for Brazil failure? Elvis: “It depends”. Says blame must be jointly & severally shared but leader must take responsibility.

— Gary Al-Smith (@garyalsmith) August 25, 2014

Sabotage?

During the cross examination, Afriyie Ankrah was asked, after he had catalogued how frustrating fundraising and other aspects of the Brazil had gone, if he suspected sabotage from certain quarters.

It took him a full minute to answer to answer Foh-Amoaning.

“There are some aspects of this whole drama that does not make sense but we will talk in chambers,” he told the commission.

Elvis insisted that the people he presided over did their very best, speaking passionately about why some things may or may not have worked.

Who is Dentaa?

A name that came up during the day was Dentaa Amoateng.

A UK-based media practitioner and better known as the owner of the GUBA franchise that organizes awards and events, Dentaa is also among the management team of Black Stars captain Asamoah Gyan.

Afriyie Ankrah mentioned her in his evidence as having been part of one of the sub-committees, prompting Justice Dzamefe to ask where she can be found.

“My Lord she was based in the UK but we contacted her when she came for a visit to run the secretariat,” Afriyie Ankrah said.

The former minister said she would be available upon request.

A word on the tears…

A section of the public has been cynical about last Thursday’s sensational episode when Afriyie Ankrah wept during cross examination.

Foh-Amoaning asked him about the public perception that his tears had been a charade.

“My lord, we have 25 million Ghanaians [and] people are entitled to their views…You were here and you saw what happened…Before God and man it was not planned, it was not premeditated…I don’t even know how it started…Never in my wildest imagination will I think of doing something like that [crying in public]…It wasn’t a difficult question but it triggered the emotions,” he explained.

Appearance fees – again

The question that would never go away was addressed again, but this time the former minister was asked if he thought appearance fees for players and officials was merited.

Elvis recommended that “a broader [public] discussion” be held on the matter in order “to listen to arguments for maintaining the status quo and arguments against, I will then be in a better position to say this is my position.”

He also reiterated the explanations that GFA boss Kwesi Nyantakyi has consistently proffered.

“My understanding is that the money given officials is based on seven people. It is not as if each [official takes the same amount as the players].”

The sittings continue on Tuesday, with the expected appearance of Fred Darko, who was in charge of the planning committee for Brazil 2014.

___

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___

–

By: Gary Al-Smith/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @garyalsmith

The post Elvis suspects sabotage, demands right to fairness & denies Becca sex romp appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

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DAY ONE | DAY TWO  |  DAY THREE  |  DAY FOUR |  DAY FIVE

__

The effort to maximize Ghana’s participation at the 2014 Fifa World Cup yielded only 26,373 cedis.

This deduction came from the testimony provided by the eagerly anticipated appearance of former Youth and Sports minister Elvis Afriyie Ankrah on Wednesday at the Dzamefe Commission.

The former minister spoke to several issues as he was interrogated by the Presidential Commission set up to look into the happenings of the World Cup.

Wednesday’s sitting was day 6 and covered only the preparatory stage of the Brazil 2014 process, therefore everything discussed was centred on what happened before the various delegations emplaned to Brazil.

There were several highlights, including some pricey stuff.

But the quote of the day came in the last ten minutes of the hearings when the former minister was being quizzed about details of accounts.

“My lord, some of your questions are like quadratic equations so it is difficult to answer them yes or no.”

That drew laughter all round, but there were a lot of serious highlights.

Waakye matters

Elvis Afriyie Ankrah revealed that there was no formal contract between the ministry and the caterers they employed for the tournament in Brazil.

He explained the three selected caterers were the popular Accra-based joints called Kenkey Boutique, Amber and Muni’s Waakye. These three were given letters to formalize the arrangement between the two parties, a situation which did not sit well with the commission.

Send off party

A farewell ball was hosted by the state for the Black Stars before their departure for pre-tournament games with the Netherlands and the USA in May.

This four hour event cost the taxpayer GHS 188,665.

Afriyie Ankrah explained that the  event – which had President John Mahama, prominent ex-footballers and high ranking football people in attendance – was used as a fund-raising initiative.

“We used that platform as an opportunity to auction materials that the president signed with his green pen too,” the sports minister noted of the event held on May 22.

8,700 visas were issued to Ghanaians for #WC2014. Sadly, NONE of Ghana’s former natl team players got visas by sports ministry.

— Gary Al-Smith (@garyalsmith) August 20, 2014

The bank account

Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah confirmed what has been public knowledge that the Ministry of Youth and Sports had a bank account at the Zenith Bank that was used for official World Cup transactions.

Operating under the name MOYS – Brazil Fifa World Cup 2014, the account had four signatories from the sports ministry.

“My Lord, I would like to point out that I was not one of the signatories to this account,” Afriyie-Ankrah clarified.

How much was in the account?

Sponsors and well-wishers were publicly courted by the ministry to help the country in its quest to have a successful World Cup on all fronts. The amount realized, according to the minister, was 4,509,635 cedis ($1.16 million at current rates).

How much was spent?

The commission heard that Ghana spent 4,483,282.89 cedis ($1.21 million), which drew a low whistle from the chairman of the commission. That took the profit the government Ghana made to just 26,373 ($6,800).

How many sponsors contributed to the effort?

Justice Dzamefe challenged the minister on this point, after Afriyie-Ankrah had said only 23 sponsors had contributed to the effort.

Further probing revealed that the number was 41, with the commission asking him to provide further and better particulars later.

But they stopped short of asking him to provide the names in public, due to the possibility of offending some of the sponsors.

Four of the sponsors preferred to remain anonymous. But one key question was: how many supporters did the taxpayer pay to airlift to Brazil?

INFOGRAPH: Breakdown of $1.16 million Ghana’s Planning Committee for Brazil 2014 spent. #citisports pic.twitter.com/PkGVhY6KIl — Gary Al-Smith (@garyalsmith) August 20, 2014

The Ghana support

This was one of the most intriguing parts of the day, as it was revealed that 612 fans were officially airlifted on the ticket of the government.

It emerged at the sitting that the sports ministry was initially not sure if they could pay for the penciled number.

“There was a lot of pressure for us to send them, and my seniors will tell you that support, motivation and inspiration plays a big role in football so we felt we must take a core group of supporters.”

“That’s official. So what was the unofficial number?” came the response from Moses Foh-Amoaning, a member of the commission.

Elvis responded: “696. At the camp when we took the official roll we realized that some people had managed to get into the camp that the committee did not send.”

Afriyie-Ankrah, having noted already that the camp capacity was 1000 people, pointed out that those who managed to sneak in were Ghanaians as well.

He admitted that the excess numbers were fed and housed by the ministry, saying that a list of all 696 was available.

“You did well [by hosting and housing them because] they were Ghanaians, but systems must work. You can’t tell the whole of Ghana that you are taking 612 and take care of that number.”

Also of interest was the fact that the former minister revealed an estimated 3000 supporters were airlifted to South Africa for the 2010 World Cup, a fact which Foh-Amoaning was skeptical about.

Foh-Amoaning: “Are you sure about this? Can you provide proof, files and documentation? Can we have it?”

“Yes, my lord.”

Former Ghana sports minister speaking at #Brazil2014inquiry. Not allowed to use ppt as he wanted but speaking well. pic.twitter.com/NuZSSg7V8E

— Gary Al-Smith (@garyalsmith) August 20, 2014

 Bonuses again

The former minister cleared the air on the thorny issue of the appearance fees wanted by the Black Stars players.

“They had asked for $120,000 [and later the Ministry and the FA] proposed that $100,000 [to be given to them],” Afriyie-Ankrah said.

“The FA brings proposals. We look at the proposals and then I have to take it to cabinet. So it when it got to cabinet said we can do $82,500, which is 10 percent [more than the amounts given] in 2010.”

The commission promised to go deeper into this issue on Thursday.

Other interesting costs

Out of the over four million cedis expended, GHS 1,953,96 was spent on accommodation and feeding in Brazil.

Also revealed was that GHS 16,700 was spent on media relations (which he clarified as not being payment to journalists) and GHS 519,035 on match tickets covering 612 fans.

The commission heard that a mobile application and website together cost GHS 22,857.

Citi Sports has found the website (click here) and the android mobile application, which received just over 100 downloads (click here).

Afriyie-Ankrah appears again on Thursday.

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NEED SUMMARIES OF THE HEARINGS? CLICK HERE:

DAY ONE | DAY TWO  |  DAY THREE  |  DAY FOUR |  DAY FIVE

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By: Gary Al-Smith/Citifmonline.com/Ghana

 Follow @garyalsmith

The post “The Commission’s questions are like quadratic equations” – Afriyie Ankrah appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

If that is what the government want to do with the ongoing Commission of Inquiry, they would have lost from the very beginning.

They would not beat the GFA – at least not at this place and time.

Rising resentment

It is true that you would find precious few who think the GFA’s current administration is not corrupt.

It is also true that knowing this, the government rode the wave of the Black Stars’ fantastic failure before and during the World Cup to constitute the three-man Commission to knock some sense into the FA in a nice way.

What the Commission can achieve is to further sully the reputation of the GFA in terms of how badly they managed the Black Stars’ technical direction in Brazil, as well as matters of indiscipline.

Because there would be crucial GFA general elections next year, this can damage the image of the current Kwesi Nyantakyi-led administration enough to get them out of power.

But the Commission, in fairness, have publicly said several times that demonizing the GFA is not their mission.

Let’s hope that is the case. Otherwise, they will fail.

This is why.   

1. Fifa has rules.

Like every other organization, the world football governing body has statutes detailing how member associations operate. It is important to note that Fifa does not lose anything if Ghana is banned.

Ghana needs Fifa more than Fifa needs Ghana, because the ordinary man on the street wants to be part of the global football family. Sepp Blatter would panic if England threatens to leave, but Ghana? Please.

2. You (Ghana) agreed to join Fifa.

Therefore, you agree to obey them. Else, if you think the Fifa kitchen is too hot, please get out.

3. Fifa have not said don’t punish corrupt officials.

They only say do not touch the structure of the FA.

Examples around Africa abound where Fifa has allowed governments to punish corrupt FA officials. Exactly a year ago this month, former Benin Football Federation president Anjorin Moucharafou was re-arrested and sent to jail two days after he declined to run for a third term.

He had been arraigned before a court in July 2011 for misappropriation of the federation’s funds, then he was remanded in custody at the Cotonou Civil Prison.

His crime? Anjorin had been accused of mishandling $650,000 sponsorship money from mobile phone company MTN between 2008 and 2010.

He was summoned alongside the Benin FA’s accountant Cecile Houssou for the same charges.

What did Fifa do? Nothing.

In fact, Fifa makes it a point to encourage member associations to be accountable to their governments and sponsors.

4. Most people think the GFA are afraid. Really?

Actually, they are not scared at all.

The FA are simply safeguarding the entire country from being banned because of the way the Commission of Inquiry kick-started its operations. It must be said that it’s largely for their own interests, and not because they love Ghana that much.

Article 279 of Ghana’s constitution says such a commission “shall have the powers, rights and privileges of the High Court or a Justice of the High Court at a trial.”

By virtue of how it is formed, the Committee can pass judgment that CAN touch the structure of the FA.

And if that happens, Ghana will be banned. If the FA are afraid of anything, it is that the lucrative competitions they partake in are under threat because of a looming Fifa ban.

5. Can the Commission punish any FA official?

Even if they would, it would not be directly done.

If, as we saw in the case of Anjorin in Benin, if an FA official is found to have embezzled state funds, the Commission cannot by themselves sentence him to jail.

They would make recommendations at the end of their mandate that will allow the Ghana Police to begin prosecuting procedures.

6. Should the GFA have anything to fear?

No, they do not.

The GFA have always maintained that they did not have any direct involvement with the monies government gave for Ghana’s participation in Brazil.

In fact, there was no need to be involved because Fifa is thought to have given the FA up to $1.5 million for its preparations in Holland and the USA.

Despite not going through past the group stage, Ghana earned $8 million from playing the three matches in Brazil.

Therefore, the controversial $3 million the government airlifted during the tournament would be refunded by the FA as soon as Fifa make that money available.

7. Why has the sports minister suddenly gone quiet?

At the inauguration of the Commission of Inquiry, the recently-appointed sports minister made a promise that may haunt him badly.

Mahama Ayariga publicly promised the GFA that he will ensure the controversial clause (the one that hints that the GFA structure can be touched by the Commission if deemed fit) is removed.

As we speak, it is likely Ayariga is kicking himself for making that promise. It may become his first major mistake as minister of sport.

8. Is that why the GFA have suddenly started granting interviews?

Yes!

The Communications Director of the FA, Ibrahim Sannie Daara, has been on a charm offensive, featuring on major news networks since Monday. Before then, he had hardly spoken on this matter after the Commission was inaugurated.

Daara and the FA have been reminding the sports minister of the promise he made to remove the controversial clause.

Daara told Citi FM on Monday: “We want to hold the minister to his word – his word that he gave with the press there – that he says if Fifa has a problem with the terms of inquiry, he would do something about it. And that is where it must stop.

“We don’t want to get into a public flogging with the ministry. So that we are seen to be played according to the Fifa laws and we would not be told by Fifa that we are violating its rules and we would suffer in that light [by being banned].”

9. Who is winning the public relations battle?

It depends on which stations you believe, or which media outlets you subscribe to.

The FA is alleged to have certain media houses that carry their interest, and make no mistake, some of these are very influential.

The segment of Ghanaians who tune into these stations actively believe the Commission is not necessary.

By continuously granting interviews that remind the sports minister of his pledge, the GFA are subtly making Ayariga look like a troublemaker.

The government is losing ground because the Commission have pledged not to speak during the process. But what they do have is overwhelming public support as Ghanaians generally feel money was wasted in Brazil.

Even if the Commission completes its work and does not implicate the FA in anything, Nyantakyi and his people hope they would come out smelling better.

Focusing on the wrong people

Being a journalist offers one a certain kind of insight into niche topics and this is one.

I am fully convinced that the Presidential Commission are investigating the wrong people, because the biggest culprit of the Brazil 2014 fiasco has been moved from the Ministry of Youth and Sports to a position inside the Flagstaff House.

The government can (and should) punish any FA officials seen as embezzling money, after all they are Ghanaians and are subject to the laws of the land.

But that is unlikely, simply because the FA, if their rhetoric is to be believed, only used Fifa money throughout Brazil 2014.

Going forward

The Commission continues sitting on Wednesday.

People must understand that the Dzamefe Commission is not prosecutorial, but simply advisorial.

So for the many Ghanaians wishing for wholesale changes at the FA through a direct action from Justice Dzamefe and his learned colleagues, sorry, you will be disappointed.  

–

By: Gary Al-Smith/Citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @garyalsmith

The post AL-SMITH: Why Mahama’s commission of inquiry can’t beat the GFA appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

While not mentioning specific institutions and names, the chairman of the commission, Justice Senyo Dzamefe was emphatic about their independence.

“This morning we received a letter from the [Ghana Football Association] addressed to the Minister of Youth and Sports, Honorable  Mahama Ayariga  and copied to us,” he said on Monday at the first sitting at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The letter, Justice Dzamefe said, was dated August 7 and signed by Fifa Deputy Secretary General Markus Kattner.

The world football governing body’s letter sent last Thursday addressed its unease at the insistence on the government of Ghana to look into the Black Stars performance at the World Cup – but the Commission would not admit that their comments were aimed at Fifa.

“I want to state categorically that we are not intimidated by anybody,” Justice Dzamefe insisted.

Postponement

Meanwhile the commission has postponed its sittings  to Wednesday August 13.

The two other members of the commission are lawyer and veteran sports broadcaster Moses  Foh-Amoaning  and  Kofi   Anokye Owusu Darko, rescheduled to allow the institutions subpoenaed ample time to prepare before taking  their turns before the commission.

Four state-institutions were to be present at Monday’s sittings but only three showed up. The Bank of Ghana failed to show up for reasons that remain unclear but the Finance, Foreign Affairs and Sports ministries sent representatives.

Citi News’ Pearl Akanya Ofori reports that the atmosphere at the venue was expectant, but ultimately disappointing as no hearings came off.

Background

In the wake of Ghana’s poor show at the recent World Cup, the Sports Ministry set up a three-member committee to investigate matters of player indiscipline and some poor decisions by the management team, as well as general poor performance in the tournament.

However, President John Mahama later upgraded the setup from a committee to a Commission of Inquiry.

Article 279 of Ghana’s constitution says such a commission “shall have the powers, rights and privileges of the High Court or a Justice of the High Court at a trial.”

In the eyes of Fifa, this simply means the GFA could be on trial from a High Court, which may go contrary to their rules of engagement with member associations.

–

By: Pearl Akanya Ofori/Citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @pearlakanya

The post Brazil 2014 fiasco: “Commission of Inquiry won’t be intimidated” – Chairman appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.