Category: Featured

Featured posts

Nyantakyi’s bank accounts under investigation over money laundering ‘charges’

The embattled football administrator’s troubles seem not to be all over, after a fresh investigation has been launched by government

Former Ghana Football Association president Kwesi Nyantakyi is under intense scrutiny following an action by Financial Intelligence Centre to investigate all transactions made by him between 2014 and 2018, AshesGyamera can confirm.

It has been alleged that the one-time Fifa Council member and Caf vice president was involved in money laundering, hence all his accounts across the country are being monitored to check how monies were transferred and received.

Following the exposè by undercover journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, it was captured that Nyantakyi was showing foreign investors how to transact monies into the country on the blind side of the security services. He has since resigned from all positions he once held in football.

Therefore, chief executive officer of the Financial Intelligence Centre in a letter dated June 11, 2018 sighted by us has directed all banks that Nyantakyi dealt with in the past to provide soft copies of his accounts statements.

“Pursuant to Section 28 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2008 (Act 749), as amended, kindly furnish us with the following information on subjects and any other connected accounts:
“1. Mandate and Account opening forms.
“2. Business Registration Document.
“3. Legible copy of photo identity.
“4. Evidence of Know Your Customer (KYC) and Customer Due Diligence (CDD).
“5. All transaction details (bank statement) from January 2014 to date.
“6. Copies of all SWIFT Messages received for the same period (if any).
“7. Copies of Verification of Beneficiary Owners form completed in respect of transfers. ”

According to the letter, all the banks have up to Thursday June 14 to provide every details requested from them.

If found guilty Nyantakyi could be sentenced with a minimum of one to three years in prison with hard labour.

Spain sack Lopetegui on eve of World Cup kick-off; read why?

The move threatens to destabilise one of the most highly-rated teams in the tournament, with La Roja set to play Portugal on Friday

Lopetegui was announced as Zinedine Zidane’s successor in a move that surprised many just days before the World Cup in Russia is due to start.

The announcement initially claimed that the 51-year-old would take the reins at Santiago Bernabeu after the conclusion of the tournament, but La Roja have acted now after calling a hastily-arranged press conference on Wednesday.

“We have decided to fire the national coach,” Spanish Football Federation president, Luis Rubiales, said. “What we have achieved in getting here is due in great part to him, and we must thank him and wish him luck.”

Rubiales insists he does not feel undermined, but has suggested that Real acted in a manner unbecoming of their status.

He added: “I don’t feel betrayed. Lopetegui has done impeccable work. How all this has been done is something else.
“I have spoken with the players and I can guarantee they will do everything, along with the new coach, to take the team as far as possible.

“Real Madrid look for the best coach, that is fine by me. I have no opinion about how Real Madrid act. But the federation have an obligation to represent all Spaniards.
“To win is very important, to have the best coach is very important, but above everything is acting in the right way. Maybe this is tough now, but in the end it will make us stronger.”

Lopetegui was unbeaten in his time in the Spain dugout, guiding his team to 14 wins and six draws from 20 matches, and he signed a new two-year contract to take him through to Euro 2020 in May.

The stunning development threatens to destabilise a team regarded as one of the favourites to win the tournament in Russia.

Spain face Portugal on Friday, and will also face Iran and Morocco in Group B.
Rubiales has not revealed who will be in charge for La Roja’s opening game of the tournament, but insists that an announcement will be made in due course.
“We are going to touch as little as possible,” he said. “We are working on it. When we know we will tell you.”

It has been reported that several Spain players were keen for Lopetegui to stay on throughout the tournament, but that Rubiales was keen to act after finding out of the manager’s agreement with Real Madrid mere minutes before the announcement was made.

_Goal

Ten people dead in gory accident near Suhum

Another unfortunate news have reached our desk with many people perishing due to a road accident

News reaching AshesGyamera.com indicate that almost ten passengers have given up their souls following a serious accident at Mankron, a community near Suhum, off the Accra-Kumasi highway on Wednesday morning.

According to eyewitnesses many passengers on board in the two buses have sustained serious degrees of injuries and have been rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment and possibly surgeries to save their lives.

The two buses which collided were with the registration numbers of GS 835-15 and GN 6600-17.

One was coming to Kumasi while the other was on its way to Accra but it is however unclear what caused the accident at this moment since police are tight-lipped on the unfortunate incident.

Ghana & Kosovo excluded from Fifa Congress ahead of 2026 World Cup vote

The West African country will not be participating in the voting process to elect the 2026 World Cup host

With few hours to vote the host of 2026 Fifa World Cup, Ghana and Kosovo have been excluded, leaving 205 eligible voters out of 211 federations,
Goal understands.

This comes as a blow to Morocco who had won the support of Ghana over joint bidders United States, Mexico and Canada.

While Ghana’s former FA president Kwesi Nyantakyi has been handed a 90-day Fifa ban following corruption allegations, the country’s government is on the verge of dissolving the association, with two GFA officials barred from travelling to attend the congress in Russia.

Kosovo, on the other hand, will also not partake following the sudden death of its football federation’s president Fadil Vokkri on Saturday.

Bloc voting would be a huge factor to decide the eventual winner on Wednesday. CAF affiliated associations are expected to vote for Morocco while CONCACAF back the United Bid of United States, Mexico and Canada.

Also, South American associations are likely to vote for the United Bid while those from UEFA are split, with France and Belgium likely to throw their support behind Morocco.

The Fifa World Cup has been hosted once in Africa by South Africa in 2010.

Hendricks slams Ghanaian referees; believes they ended footballers’ careers prematurely

The 43-year-old believes many talented footballers couldn’t realise their dreams because of unfair treatments by referees

Former Asante Kotoko captain Joseph Hendricks says a lot of footballers ended their careers prematurely due to unfair officiating by referees in Ghana Premier League.

Over 77 referees including Fifa referees Samuel Sukah and Theresa Akongyram were captured in a video accepting bribes, following undercover journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas’ investigations into the corruption that has taken over the top-flight.

The culprits have subsequently been suspended and the referees appointment committee dissolved.

“Majority of referees in Ghana are very wicked and heartless. They have ended the careers of many footballers through terrible decisions taken against them,” Hendricks told Goal .

“During my days at Kotoko, there were many games that we lost which shouldn’t have happened in that manner. After several weeks of training and mastering tactics, a lot of our bonuses were lost because certain decisions were taken against us and in the end lost important games.

“Referee Samuel Sukah in particular is very wicked and it wasn’t a surprise to me that he was captured on camera accepting bribes on numerous occasions to manipulate the results of football games,” he said.

“Who in his right frame of mind will try to fix a game involving Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak knowing very well that over 127 people had died in the past because of a poor decision by a referee in 2003? These people don’t think about Ghanaians but their selfish interest,” he added.

Hendricks boasts of five appearances with Ghana between 2000 and 2003.

Kwesi Nyantakyi resigns as Ghana FA president after public pressure

The football association chief has finally bowed to pressure from the public after being caught in a scandal

Ghana Football Association president Kwesi Nyantakyi has finally tendered his resignation from office on Friday after being caught in a bribery scandal.

The 49-year-old took $65,000 to influence decisions involving setting up an oil company by an Arabian businessmen who were later found out to be undercover journalists.

Although, he was reluctant to resign, he later took the decision after he was banned by Fifa.

“Ghana Football Association wishes to announce the resignation of Mr. Kwesi Nyantakyi as president of Association,”aa GFAsstatement said.

“Mr. Nyantakyi made this decision after a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Association on Friday afternoon. After a meeting of the Executive Committee this afternoon I decided to resign as President of the Ghana Football Association”.

“It stemmed out of the controversies generated by investigative report of Tiger Eye PI. In the said report I committeed a series of errors of indiscretion. I gravely associated the highest office of the land –the presidency- with private discussions I had with “Scammers” who deceived me into thinking they were genuine persons interested in investing in our country.”

“I hereby apologise unreservedly to the father of the Nation, H.E. Nana Akufo Addo, H.E. the Vice President, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, Hon. Ministers and Deputy Ministers of State for indiscretion in associating them with the private conversations on the video.”

“I wish to clarify that at no time prior to or subsequent to any deliberations on the video did I consult, contact or inform any Government official about discussions on the video. I take sole and personal responsibility for the proceedings on the video.”

“I wish to apologise to my family, work colleagues, friends, associates and the people of Ghana for the disappointment my indiscretion has caused them. This is by no means an admission of wrong doing for issues on the video”, Mr. Nyantakyi said in a statement sent to the GFA General Secretary on Friday.

The GFA will soon announce further developments on this situation.

‘GH₵25million is peanuts; I’ll pay Anas if I lose in courts’ – Kennedy Agyapong

The Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong has responded to Anas Aremeyaw Anas’ defamation suit against him and said the GH₵25million damages he was demanding was peanuts.

According to Mr Agyapong, “that is peanuts…I’ll pay him [Anas] if I lose in court, I’ll display cash.”

In a radio interview with Accra based Asempa FM Friday afternoon, Mr Agyapong boasted that what Anas was demanding was “too cheap.”

He insisted he has evidence to support his allegations and was prepared to face him [Anas] in court since he was not afraid of him.

Mr Agyapong said he was happy about the development because it was falling in line with his plan to “unmask” Anas since in court, he was going to challenge Anas to take off his mask for the case to go ahead.

“I’m ready for him, ah! GH₵25million?, I’m guilty, I’ll put it down mehnnn!!” he added.

Ace investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas on Friday filed a defamatory suit against Mr Agyapong.

Anas is seeking reliefs including general damages for libel against Mr Agyapong, as well as aggravated damages arising from some libelous comments published by Mr Agyapong in the sum of GH₵25million.

It will be recalled that in the lead-up to the premiere of Anas’ #Number12 expose on Ghana football, Mr Agyapong criticised the investigative journalist on several media platforms accusing him of alleged corrupt acts in his operations.

Related: Anas slaps MP Kennedy Agyapong with GH₵25m defamation suit

Mr Agyapong, currently on a business trip in China responded to the suit via a telephone interview with the radio station.

He reiterated his allegations against the journalist and said he was not scared to face him in court.

Mr Agyapong said he was yet to be served with the writ but he was ready to face him in court “in style.”

“Nobody can intimidate me in Ghana,” he insisted.

-Graphiconline

Kwesi Nyantakyi banned by Fifa following corrupt practices

The Fifa council member has seen his reign halted following allegations of corruption and money laundering

Ghana Football Association president Kwesi Nyantakyi has been banned by Fifa for next three months following his involvement in corruption.

The 49-year-old was caught on camera by undercover journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas receiving a bribe of $65,000  influence decisions involving setting up of an oil company.

According to Fifa, Nyantakyi will be under investigation until September before a final decision will be taken.

Nyantakyi became Ghana FA president in 2005, replacing Dr. Nyaho-Nyaho Tamakloe who was impeached by members for poor leadership skills and lack of transparency.

Anas Aremeyaw Anas sues Kennedy Agyapong for defamation, wants ¢25 million

Investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas has sued the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong for defamation.

He is demanding GH¢25m in damages from the vociferous Member of Parliament who recently launched a fierce campaign against Anas’ work and his person.

Kennedy Agyapong in series of media interviews ahead of the premiering of Anas Aremeyaw Anas’ exposé on corruption in local football dubbed “Number12” accused Anas of entrapping persons captured in the investigative film. He described Anas as very corrupt and alleged that he was fond of taking bribes to exempt some persons he captures in his investigative films.

After releasing photos he purports to be Anas via Net 2 TV which he owns, and putting out a supposed leaked tape to back his claims that Anas is corrupt, Kennedy Agyapong called for the lynching of Anas for his nefarious acts.

Many Ghanaians expressed surprise at Mr Agyapong’s efforts to discredit Anas’ work ahead of the public viewing of the latest documentary, but that was understood after it emerged that Mr Agyapong’s name had been mentioned in that video.

Ghana President of the Ghana Football Association, Kwesi Nyantakyi was caught in the secret video describing Kennedy Agyapong as a very influential person in the government and thus needed to be convinced to join in their deal to prevent any opposition.

Mr. Nyantakyi was also heard telling undercover reporters that the Transport Minister, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, was the Assin Central MP’s pick.

“The guy who is there [at the Transport Ministry], Asiamah; that is his [Kennedy Agyapong’s] small boy,” Kwesi Nyantakyi said.

According to him, this was based on information from the Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways, Anthony Karbo.

“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.”

Kennedy Agyapong’s influence also compelled Kwesi Nyantakyi to list him as one of the people investors need to pay off to dominate Ghana.

“There is a man called Kennedy Agyapong. He is an MP. He is one of the biggest financiers of the NPP. He is very loud. He owns OMAN FM and NET2 TV. He is criticising the government, his own government, yes. He wants to control everything.”

“…because of the ways he put into the campaign, nobody can call him to order. They will be begging him when he is insulting them. So Karbo was saying that after the president and the vice president, we should involve him [Kennedy Agyapong],” Kwesi Nyantakyi told the undercover team.

It is unclear if Kennedy Agyapong knew about these claims, but his media tirades against Anas led some to believe he was panicking.

Meanwhile, Kennedy Agyapong is yet to speak publicly, following the premiering of the investigative film.

Source: citinewsroom.com

GFA issues statement on Anas’ exposè; not ready to cover-up anyone captured

The football association insists that although they’ve not watched the video, they are ready to take action

Ghana Football Association have issued a statement saying that they will punish everyone caught in the latest exposè by ace investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas in his work which he collaborated with BBC.

Aired in Accra on June 6, it was revealed that the football association president Kwesi Nyantakyi took a bribe of $65,000 to lead an unknown businessmen to the Ghana president Akufo-Addo in order to start an oil business.

Again, several executive committee members of the country’s football association were caught on cameras accepting bribe in order to influence decisions involving players, while some Fifa and class 1 referees also accepted bribes ahead of games to fix the results.

“The Ghana Football Association (GFA)’s attention has been drawn to the airing of a documentary by Tiger Eye PI alleging acts of corruption by some match officials and senior officials of the federation,” the statement said.

“The GFA was not provided with an opportunity to watch the premiering of the documentary as it was neither provided with an advanced copy of the said documentary nor furnished with tickets by Tiger Eye PI to watch the airing.

“Though, the GFA did not commission Tiger Eye PI to undertake this exercise and have not been provided with the opportunity of watching the documentary, we view the allegations circulating in the media very seriously and would wish to take immediate steps to address them.”

“To this end we believe its only fair and proper that Tiger Eye furnishes us with the said documentary and hereby request Tiger Eye as a matter of urgency to furnish us with all the recorded material on this documentary to enable us forward it to the appropriate quarters for further investigations.

“The GFA wishes to emphasise that it is an association incorporated under the laws of Ghana and as such governed by the laws of Ghana as well as its own Rules and Regulations. It is also affiliated to CAF and FIFA.”

The statement added: “The GFA wishes to place on record that, there will be no attempt of a cover-up or shield any of our members caught in alleged acts of corruption. The GFA wishes to assure all that as an institution it does not condone any manner of corrupt practices.

“We wish to put on record that eight months ago, we got evidence of some external influences seeking to manipulate matches in our various competitions. As soon as it became clear to us that we were facing the possibility of some external influences seeking to destroy the sanctity of the game in Ghana, we wrote to FIFA seeking assistance to help combat this menace.

“The action we took was in furtherance of the GFA’s desire to fight against match manipulation and maintain the integrity of our game and federation. We received a full FIFA response few days later, with an action plan on how we can fight the menace of match manipulation through a roadmap for the implementation of the national integrity initiative.

We are still working with FIFA Integrity Department to find the appropriate dates for the action to help educate our members on the dangers of this menace. The GFA will subsequently be undertaking a holistic review and continue with our reforms geared towards the enhancement of its operations in dealing with alleged acts of corruption in the game.

We urge the football fraternity to remain calm and provide us with all the support we need as we bid to restore confidence and trust in our beautiful game. We ask anyone with information about these allegations to get in touch with us through: [email protected],” the statement concluded.

According to AshesGyamera‘s sources, Kwesi Nyantakyi has been advised by top politicians and football gurus to honourably resigned from his role as GFA boss.