The Fire Club will have to travel to Eastern part of Africa in their bid to make it to the group phase of the competition
Ghana Premier League champions Aduana Stars have been handed a relatively manageable opponents in the Caf Confederation Cup playoffs, after being eliminated from the Champions League by Algerian side E.S Setif 4-1 on aggregate.
The Fire Club will host the Malagasy club at the Nana Agyeman Badu Park I in Dormaa Ahenkro on April 8 before they travel to Stade Alexandre Rabemananjara in the city of Mahajanga for the return leg a fortnight later.
Fosa Juniors eliminated Kenyan side AFC Leopards in the preliminary round of the competition with an away goal rule after sharing the spoils 1-1 away and also drawing goalless at home. They later kicked out A.S Port Loius from Mauritius in the first round with a 3-0 aggregate scoreline which included a 2-0 away victory and will have to square it off with Aduana in the final stage.
Fosa Juniors, who are making their debut appearance in the Confederations Cup just like Aduana, have never won their country’s top-flight title but won the Cup de Madagascar (FA Cup) last season and are currently fifth on the Madagascar Ligue Des Champions with five points.
They are managed by Andre Watzel and the coach spent a couple of days in Kenya prior to their game against Leopards and watched the Super Cup game between his opponents and Gor Mahia, labelled them as a ‘disorganised’ side after the first leg.
The Black Stars will have to wait for June before they can play any game since the football association seems to be struggling to raise funds following recent decisions taken by the government
Ghana Football Association communication director Ibrahim Saanie Daara has revealed that they could not attract any country for an international friendly in March since the association doesn’t have the financial resources to pay for costs involved.
The Black Stars were reported to have planned to lock horns with the Reggae Boys of Jamaica this weekend but negotiations fell through after the Concacaf country revealed that Ghana FA will be paying their bills including flight tickets and bonuses.
Already, the country’s ministry of youth and sports had revealed that, government wasn’t prepared to continue with the footing of the Black Stars’ friendlies as they seek to save money and solve other pressing issues.
“If the funds [to organise matches] are not available, there is very little we can do about it,” Saani Daara said.
“We don’t have any opponent to play against for this window. The only match we have lined up will be in June when we take on Iceland in a pre-World Cup friendly as they will be using it to prepare.
“It is about cost and this is a decision the country has to make, if we don’t have friendly matches we must organise them and pay for it,” he added.
According to AshesGyamera‘s sources, the complete take over of Unibank by Bank of Ghana, following the financial institution’s liquidation dur to improper management, has added insult to injury, as they were one of the two sponsors of the Black Stars.
The decision to pull out of the friendly will affect Kwesi Appiah’s plans to qualify and win the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations to be stage in Cameroon since the Black Stars didn’t qyalify to the 2018 Fifa World Cup.
Ghana is ranked 54th in the FIFA World ranking released for the month of February.
The former British diplomat to Ghana has taken a swipe at the Caf vice president after he said the European country want to learn player registration from Ghana
Former British High Commissioner to Ghana Jon Benjamin has thrown shades at Ghana Football Association president Kwesi Nyantakyi, after the latter said on Monday that English and Scottish FA want to learn how smooth player registration has been done in the West African country after being praised constantly by Fifa.
However, Benjamin, who spent close to three years in the country and got familiar with how Ghanaians register football players, suggests that maybe Nyantakyi wants to teach the Europeans how to have two separate ages -one in real life and one for playing football
Perhaps they want to learn why Kwesi Nyantakyi never ultimately took legal action against UK media outlets that implicated him in match fixing allegations, as he swore he would?
Or perhaps to learn about how the concept of someone’s ‘football age’ differs from their real age? https://t.co/T9nIj9ikCs
The diplomat jokingly revealed that his football age per the Ghanaian ways of doing things is 23 years despite recently turning 55 years of age.
No, it is not a problem here.
If birth records are reliable and any local phenomenon of corruptly falsified personal data is clamped down on, then this problem shouldn't be able to occur.
For the record, I recently turned 55 but my 'football age' is still only 23. https://t.co/zVRzBZCoro
The BhimNation president has given a huge hint about an official declaration of termination of contracts between him and Zylofon Music
One of Ghana’s finest Dancehall artist Stonebwoy has given a clue that he is going to announce officially the mutual termination of contracts between His camp and Zylofon Music label in the coming days.
According to the one-time Ghana Music Awards winner, people can now reach out to him for a show through his own process despite the existing current modules used by Zylofon and this comes about following bust-up between him and some workers of the record label a fortnight ago at the Champs Bar in Accra.
” You can book me through Burniton Music for a show and it will come to me and even if you book me through Zylofon, it us the same thing because it will come back to me just like the old stuff,” Stonebwoy told Joy News.
I’m calm and as far as I’m concerned, I seek to trouble nobody. I’m forgiving but in any way, how and form that I can defend myself in the best of ways, legally and understandably, I will one hundred percent do that and more.
“I may not want to go there but one thing I want to say is that there are developments and I have never come out to mention any contractual clause whatsoever, but there’s a development. Ghana will hear it, but it’s for peace, calmness, growth and progress. I’m not going to break the icy on it now but you’ll hear it when broken,” he added.
Stonebwoy recently released a banger titled Dirty Enemies, which featured Ghana captain and Keyserispor striker Asamoah Gyan and the the song has already gone viral especially on social media.
He has been nominated for the 2018 Artist of the Year in the upcoming Ghana Music Awards. However, he must beat competitions from his bitter rival Shatta Wale, reigning champion Joe Mettle, Sarkodie and Ebony Reigns of blessed memories.
Management of fast-growing Unibank has been taken over by Bank of Ghana, AshesGyamera cam confirm.
The financial institution which in recent times has been offering financial support to the Black Stars, failed to leave up to its expectations
According to an explanation from the Governor of the central bank during a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, explained that the takeover came up as as a result of challenges facing the bank.
Bank of Ghana also revealed through a statement that Unibank “persistently suffered liquidity shortfalls and consistently breached its cash reserve requirement”
The bank couldn’t meet the pressure on them and fell on the central bank for money to the tune of 2.2bn cedis dating from 2016 to enable it operate.
Bank of Ghana
PRESS RELEASE
UniBank’s problems are part of the legacy issues in the financial sector attributed to weak economic growth and poor corporate governance and risk management practices.
It will be recalled that UniBank was one of nine banks identified after the asset quality review exercise undertaken in 2016, to be significantly undercapitalized with a CAR of 4.75%.
As part of efforts to recapitalize the bank, it submitted capital restoration plans to the Bank of Ghana which it implemented to build up its capital to 7.7% in August 2017. Subsequent reviews of UniBank’s books by Bank of Ghana’s supervision teams showed that the bank had not reported the state of its loan book accurately.
Consequently by October 2017, its CAR was estimated at negative 12.5 %, making it technically insolvent. By December 2017, its CAR had dropped further to negative 24%.
The bank has failed to submit its monthly returns to the Bank of Ghana for January and February 2018, and as a result Bank of Ghana has no evidence to suggest that its CAR has been restored to the regulatory minimum of 10%.
Efforts made by Bank of Ghana’s supervisory teams who have visited the bank’s head office several times this month to obtain current information on the bank’s financial health, proved futile as the bank’s management failed to cooperate with the Bank of Ghana staff on site.
The appointment of the Official Administrator has therefore become necessary due to the fact that uniBank has, among other things:
a) Persistently maintained a capital adequacy ratio (CAR) below zero (currently negative 24%), making it technically insolvent. This contravenes section 29 of Act 930 which requires a minimum CAR of 10% to be maintained at all times.
b) Persistently suffered liquidity shortfalls and consistently breached its cash reserve requirement. As a result, UniBank has relied extensively on liquidity support (over GHS 2.2 billion) from the Bank of Ghana over the past two years to meet its recurring liabilities. Among other things, a key shareholder of the bank managed to obtain liquidity support from the Bank of Ghana using third party banks as its agents. The Bank of Ghana’s exposure to the bank was therefore underestimated by nearly GHS 400 million, as this amount was not reflected in its books.
c) Conducted its credit administration in a manner that has jeopardized the interests of depositors and the financial sector as a whole.
d) Failed to comply with a directive of the Bank of Ghana dated 26th October, 2017 under section 105 of Act 930, prohibiting the bank from granting new loans and incurring new capital expenditures.
e) Failed to comply with several other regulatory requirements, including:
Lending to a number of borrowers in excess of its regulatory lending limit (single obligor limit) under section 62 of the Banks and SDIs Act, 2016 (Act 930);
Borrowing from the inter-bank market without the written approval of the Bank of Ghana when its CAR was less than the prescribed ten percent (10%), in breach of section 66(1) of Act 930.
Outsourcing a number of services such as those of tellers, receptionists, and security, to affiliate companies without the prior approval by the Bank of Ghana, contrary to section 60 (12) of Act 930.
Refusing to cooperate with the Bank of Ghana in the performance of its supervisory responsibilities, including deliberately concealing some liabilities from its balance sheet, and failing to submit documents and records for supervisory inspection.
Poor corporate governance and risk management practices which rendered the bank vulnerable to macroeconomic shocks.
Generally conducting its affairs in a manner detrimental to the interests of depositors and the financial system as a whole.
In spite of the Ministry of Finance recently agreeing to absorb a significant amount of the debts of Government contractors owed to the bank to the tune of ¢428,817,961 (backed by Interim Payment Certificates issued to contractors), the bank has not been able to address its capital deficiency, which has continued to deteriorate.
Also, the bank engaged in significant transactions with its parent company and affiliate companies including connected lending and other related party transactions without sufficient controls as required by law.
Allowing the continuation of UniBank’s activities in their current form would be detrimental to the interests of depositors and the banking system as a whole.
Andre Ayew was an ambassador of Unibank
Several attempts by the Bank of Ghana to work together with management and shareholders of the bank to address the capital deficiency and liquidity challenges have failed to achieve the desired outcome, making the continuous reliance on Bank of Ghana for liquidity support unsustainable.
More recently, the bank’s announcement of a purported pledge of ADB Bank shares in its favour by its shareholders to secure commitments for recapitalization, were deemed by the Bank of Ghana to be null and void as no prior approval had been obtained from the Bank of Ghana as required by Act 930 for acquiring significant shares in a bank or exercising other forms of control by virtue of any transaction.
In any event, a request by the Bank of Ghana to the bank to submit copies of the Deed of Pledge and underlying transactional documents were not heeded by uniBank, its shareholders, directors, or management.
Furthermore, there are additional regulatory hurdles outside the control of the Bank of Ghana required to be cleared by UniBank before potentially realizing any value, if at all, from the said transaction, making it incapable of addressing the immediate capital and liquidity needs of the bank.
The Bank of Ghana takes this opportunity to reassure customers of UniBank that all deposits they have with UniBank are, and will remain, safe and that they can continue to do business at any of its branches. NO DEPOSITOR OF THE BANK WILL LOSE ANY MONEY.
Bank of Ghana remains committed to supporting the orderly development of Ghana’s banking sector including indigenous Ghanaian banks, while promoting a strong and resilient sector to drive Ghana’s economic growth.
Kindly direct any questions to Bank of Ghana. You may call telephone number 0302665034 or send email to [email protected].
Fifa referee Reginald Lathbridge has apologised for the terrible error he committed during matchday seven game between Bechem United and Elmina Sharks last season.
The 41-year-old cautioned Sharks’ striker Felix Addo but recorded that it was rather Joseph Amoah, making the latter ineligible in the subsequent games. Olympics capitalised on that situation to delay the start of the 2017-18 since they placed two court injunctions on it after their protests were thrown out
“I have been very honest in the issue at hand. Let’s be honest in our dealings in this world since it could take you even a year to to realize you have made a mistake,” Lathbridge told Sammer during Angel FM’s First half show.
“To err is human . I made a mistake and after I realised that it was creating problem in the football cycles, I have asked for forgiveness from God yet I have been punished with a lifetime ban.
“I’m unperturbed because from now onwards, I will walk as a free man for telling the truth. When was the last time I was banned or suspension for an error so this clearly tells the world that it was not intentional.”
He added: “If it is possible for a doctor to operate a patient and leave a scissor or another material in his tommy and later realise what he has done, why can’t I also do the same even it is a year or two?”
AshesGyamera understands that the referee will likely appeal the decision since he has only four years to retire.
The Knight of the Whistle has seen his career ending abruptly following a terrible mistake he made in his match report last season
Fifa referee Reginald Lathbridge has been handed a lifetime ban by Ghana Football Association, AshesGyamera can confirm.
The former Kumasi-based made a crucial error in his match report involving Bechem United and Elmina Sharks on matchday seven of last leading to a legal tussle between Ghana FA and Great Olympics since the latter wanted to benefit from it.
Lathbridge booked Elmina Sharks striker Felix but surprisingly recorded it as Joseph Amoah, making the Bechem United winger ineligible in their next game against Bolga All Stars. The mistake led to Olympics placing two court injunctions on the start of the 2017-18 season since their protests were thrown out by the association’s disciplinary and appeals committees.
“The GFA Disciplinary Committee has taken the following decision at its sitting: Referee Reginald Lathbridge banned for life,” a GFA statement read.
“This Disciplinary Committee has decided to ban Referee Reginald Lathbridge is for life from taking part from all football related activities (administrative, sports and any other) at national and international levels having been found guilty of the charges brought against him by the GFA Prosecutor.
“Referee Reginald Lathbridge at his hearing at the Disciplinary Committee apologised to all stakeholders of the game and admitted the charge of failing to submit a complete and accurate Match Report to the GFA in the Matchday 7 of the 2016/2017 Ghana Premier League match played between Bechem United FC and Elmina Sharks FC at Bechem thereby bringing the game into disrepute.”
The statement added: “Referee Reginald Lathbridge’s actions are held to have been in violation of Articles 22 and 35(7)(d) in the GFA General Regulations and other regulations in respect of this matter.
“The Disciplinary Committee states that the importance of the Match Official’s Reports in football cannot be overemphasised in view of Article 85 of the GFA Disciplinary Code which presumes that the Referee’s Report is accurate and considered authoritative regarding matters on incidents that take place on the field of play and the far-reaching consequences any inaccuracy may lead to.”
AshesGyamera understands that the referee has sworn to appeal the ruling.
A BhimNation member KofiAnsah popularly known in Sunyani as Ananse, who currently resides in America, made time of his schedule just to throw his support behind Shatta Movement boss Shatta Wale during the just-concluded 2018 International Reggae & World Music Awards (IRAWMA) held in Florida.
Ananse with Shatta Wale
Shatta Wale was honoured for his outstanding contributions to Reggae in Ghana, Africa and at the global level recently, paving ways for other artists to get inspired and push reggae music.
Although, Ananse is always on Facebook trolling Shatta Wale, he admitted after the program that he likes the dancehall guru and even came because he wanted to support his own despite being in the opponents camp.
Shatta Wale and Pope Skinny in Florida
Shatta Wale who was adjudged the best African entertainer/artist by IRAWMA in 2016, went to United States with Pope Skinny and they are expected to shoot a new music video which also happens to be his first under Zylofon Music label, before returning to Ghana early next month.
Shatta has been nominated for the 2018 Ghana Music Awards artist of the year after dropping hit after hit in 2017 including Ayoo, Takin Over, Mayaatra, Umbrella, Dem Confuse and Forgetti as well as mounting lots of high-profile stages
The Caf vice president has reiterated that it costs a lot of money for a club to participate in any of Africa’s international-club competitions
Ghana Football Association president Kwesi Nyantakyi has revealed that he his bank account nearly hit a zero figure following his club’s participation in the Caf Champions League in 2017.
After Wa All Stars won the Ghana Premier League in 2016, the Northern Blues toured the Middle East before participation in the Caf Champions League preliminary round.
Although, they lost both home and away fixtures to Libyan side Al Ittihad, Nyantakyi insists he almost went bankrupt after one trip to North Africa.
“Aduana Stars exit from Caf Champions League is a great concern,” Nyantakyi said when he met the press on Monday.
” Fortunately, I have a fair idea of what goes on in the rest of Africa. Why do the North African countries dominate the African Champions League? It’s because of money, they buy the best players even from West Africa.
@ghanafaofficial president Kwesi Nyantakyi says he nearly became bankrupt in 2017 after Wa All Stars' participation in the Caf Champions Leaguehttps://t.co/9SliP0q7hs
“Clubs participating in African [clubs competition] is a very serious venture. I went through it once and I nearly got bankrupt [since] it’s very expensive. We’ve seen clubs participating and the following year they go to relegation like Ebusua Dwarfs and King Faisal.
He added: “When you go to T.P Mazembe it is like a United Nations’ team. At a time they were having 17 nationals (foreign players) and the Ghanaian players there were getting $8,000 while some were getting $10,000 and $12,000 a month. We’re not able to do that here and we’re not going to attract the best players. Our best players are even in Europe but this trend will not stop until we’re able to pay players and retain their services.”
Aduana will drop to the Caf Confederation Cup and will play in the final qualifying round in a bid to make it to the group stage.
Deputy General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) Mr Koku Ayidoho has revealed that then Vice President John Mahama stood in the way of a probe into the ‘corrupt’ ‘co-efficient’ affairs of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) under Mr Kwesi Nyantakyi.
Mr Ayidoho was speaking on 21 Minutes with KKB on GhanaWeb monitored by MYNEWSGH.com, Mr Koku Ayidoho said he believes that there are some improprieties at the GFA which a proper probe would expose, but then Veep Mahama intervened on the side of Mr Nyantakyi.
“We thought that we had to look into GFA matters. This business where government is sponsoring football yet we can’t look into their affairs to me is quizzy.” He said.
‘The Bull’, as he is affectionately called by NDC supporters recalled that when the the NDC won power in 2008, he and a circle of sports enthusiasts key among them being Nii Lante Vanderpuye (former Sports Minister who clashed frequently with GFA), Kojo Bonsu and Kojo Twum Boafo, then close to the circle of power had began moves to institute probe into how the GFA was being run without proper accountability, but Mr Mahama, was reached by Kwesi Nyantakyi to intervene in the matter by speaking to President Mills, who upon intervention of his VP, warned his then ‘castle boys’ to “slow down on Kwesi Nyantakyi”.
“There was a typical issue that had to do with Kwesi Nyantakyi and the GFA. And some of us sports enthusiasts like Nii Lante, Kojo Bonsu, Kojo Twum Boafo at the time.. we thought that Kwesi Nyantakyi was doing something wrong and having come into power we needed to go into the FA as a government but I think somehow Kwesi Nyantakyi found his way to the Vice President John Mahama and the Vice President had a chat with President Mills. So the president asked us his boys to slow down on Nyantakyi”, he revealed.
