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

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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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

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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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

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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‘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

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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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

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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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

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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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.

Zylofon Cash threatens to cancel Ghana Premier League sponsorship deal over Anas’ exposè

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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Zylofon Cash threatens to cancel Ghana Premier League sponsorship deal over Anas’ exposè

The top-flight’s title sponsors believe they may cancel their deal with the football association

Ghana Premier League headline sponsors Zylofon Cash have revealed that they may opt for the exit if the latest investigation made by ace undercover journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas and his Tiger Eye PI crew find several people involved in bribery and corruption, according to Public Relations officer Halifax Owusu-Ansah.

The fast-rising company signed a ten-year deal with Ghana FA last month worth $10 million but they have hinted their willingness to terminate it prematurely depending on the outcome.

“If it so happens that the investigation affects the whole organisation [GFA], so much so that the league cannot continue, then we may review the contract,” Halifax told Citi FM.

“Who enters a contract without an exit clause? I’ve not seen it anywhere before. However the matter hasn’t reached there yet, it just an option we are considering, but we hope we will not get there,” he added.

According to AshesGyamera‘s sources, over 77 referees and 12 Ghana FA officials have been captured in the latest video.

Number 12 is scheduled to be premiered at the Accra International Conference Center on Wednesday and Thursday at 3pm, 5pm, 8pm and 10pm.

The video will be later premiered in Kumasi and Tamale after BBC broadcast it on their various channels for their audience across the globe.

#Number12 : 17 Ghanaian referees ‘caught’ in Anas exposé

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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#Number12 : 17 Ghanaian referees ‘caught’ in Anas exposé

A total of 17 Ghanaian referees and match officials have been contacted by Insight The World Investigates (TWI) – collaborators of ace investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas to respond to allegations of corruption levelled against them in the yet to be aired #Number12 documentary.

TWI has dispatched confidential and password encrypted letters in PDF format signed by TWI Executive Producer, Ron McCullagh to the 17 match officials (names withheld). Out of the 17, only one – Assitant Referee Kennedy Bentil – has confirmed being captured on tape by Anas.

In an interview with ATL FM, Referee Bentil admitted being one of the ‘culprits’ of the Anas #Number12 exposé.

“It is true that Bentil is one of the Anas video culprits,” Boateng an assistant referee (linesman) admitted in the interview.

However, he declined to comment on the circumstances that led to him being captured by the sting, maintaining that he has always been very objective in his duties as an assistant referee.

“I don’t want to talk on air”, he insisted, adding that attempts to defend himself will make him look even worse in the eyes of the public.

Graphic Online understands that TWI made contact with the referees through the RAG which informed the body that the allegations were part of a documentary for the BBC World Service Series titled: Africa Eye – about investigations carried out by Anas Aremeyaw Anas.

The letter invites responses from the individuals who it says have been named in the expose, describing it as vital “that they receive the letters as fast as humanly possible”.

The much-anticipated documentary, titled “Number 12,” is said to have captured the fixing of several games in the GPL over the course of two seasons.

The instances of match-fixing are said to include the exchange of monies to pre-determine the scores of games as well as crucial incidents in games.

It features collusion among the match fixers and referees, club administrators and GFA officials.

The eagerly anticipated documentary will show at the Accra International Conference Center on June 6-7, 2018. There will be four(4) screenings each day: 3pm, 5pm, 8pm & 10pm.

The video will also be shown at the new GCB Auditorium at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi on June 9 and 10, 2018.

The people of Tamale will have their turn to watch the video at Radach Hotel on June 13, 2018, while those in Takoradi will have the opportunity at Akroma Plaza on June 16, 2018.

-Graphic Sports

Nyantakyi is clean, Caf backs him over defraud by false pretence charges

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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Nyantakyi is clean, Caf backs him over defraud by false pretence charges

The country’s football association chief who has been in hot waters recently, following an alleged fraudulent activities has received support from Caf

Caf executive committee member and president of Liberia Football Association, Musa Bility, has insisted that Kwesi Nyantakyi will soon be found not guilty of all the charges levelled against him by Ghana’s security services.

Nyantakyi was invited by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of his native country on ” defrauding under false pretences” on orders of Ghana president Nana Akufo-Addo, after an investigation done by renowned undercover Ghanaian journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas allegedly captured using names of high-ranking government officials to defraud foreign investors.

Although, the full video of the investigations which is basically about football and politics and has been named ‘Number 12’, will be publicly screened on June 6 in Accra, Nyantakyi has been subsequently granted bail and is assisting the police with investigations.

“Kwesi Nyantakyi is a good man. His credibility and integrity is undoubted and everyone at Caf is very confident he will come out clean,” Bility told Beach FM.

“I’m not surprised with the current situation Kwesi Nyantakyi finds himself in his country. This is because allegations of bribery and corruption against Football Association presidents as well as their involvement in governmental manipulations are gradually becoming normal practices in Africa.

“Many people believe football administrators are corrupt but that’s not the case. Nyantakyi shouldn’t be defined by this current predicaments alone, since we believe he will be free soon. He has a lot of goods to still offer African football,” he added.

Nyantakyi, who is in his third term of office, became Ghana FA president in 2005, succeeding Dr. Nyaho-Nyaho Tamakloe.

 

Source: AshesGyamera.Com

Anas’ wealth is beyond a journalist, AshGold CEO Fred Achie supports Kennedy Agyapong

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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Anas’ wealth is beyond a journalist, AshGold CEO Fred Achie supports Kennedy Agyapong

The Miners chief has added his voice to the brouhaha on properties owned by undercover journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas

Ashanti Gold chief executive officer Frederick Acheampong, popularly known as Fred Achie, believes Kennedy Agyapong could have a valid point following concerns raised on how undercover journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas has within a short time amassed enough wealth, including estates in Accra.

According to the Assin North member of parliament, Anas has over the years used diabolical means to set up people and later make money from them. Agyapong further alleged that he has Anas on tape confessing that he took a $100,000 as bribe from one of his culprits.

And Acheampong, who is a close associate of embattled Ghana Football Association president Kwesi Nyantakyi suggests Anas’ dealings and worth must be given a second thought.

“Anas’ level of richness or worthines is beyond a journalist. The Anas we know works for [The New] Crusading Guide and has added this investigative thing to his work,” Acheampong said on Kessben FM.

“As I’m sitting, if I start doing other big business …..where did one get the money to start? We shouldn’t brush aside what Kennedy Agyapong said.

“We should do away with what out mind tell us and deal with what the man asked. At times, there can be a certain bank manager who auditors come and investigate. At times, we can say people are living beyond their earnings that’s why they’re investigated,” he added.

Acheampong further recounted how Nyantakyi’s alleged defrauding by false pretence emanated and revealed that someone wanted to extort money from his camp since he was shown the secret recording in January.

“Only Anas conducted the video in Dubai, how come a third party had hold of it to show to us? This whole thing started in September when Ahmed Hussein approached Northern region FA president Abu Alhassan and he also called Kwesi Nyantakyi. it was about sponsoring of Ghana Premier League and obviously as FA president who was struggling to get sponsorship for his league, he expressed interest and they met not once, or twice.

“Even in Dubai, the recording didn’t take place initially. What they were expecting wasn’t coming from Nyantakyi so they brought in business and he committed himself. But my question is that, what was the reason why the video got to a third party because we watched it in January?”

Acheampong doubles as a panelist on Kessben TV/Radio programme Midfield Action.

Baring all unforseen circumstances, Anas will premiere the Number 12 exposè at the Accra International Conference Centre.

 

 

 

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