GRi Sports News Ghana 05 - 04 - 2001
Soccer-How GFA spent CAF's 450,000 dollar
grant
Congress confirms winner takes all
League starts on
Saturday April 14 instead
Soccer-How GFA spent CAF's 450,000 dollar
grant
Accra (Greater Accra) 05 April 2001
The secrecy surrounding the 450,00 dollar grant to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) was unravelled on Wednesday when the Djarbeng Committee's report which probed the disbursement of the money was released.
The report pointed accusing fingers at the top helmsmen of the GFA in the manner they disbursed the money without recourse to laid down procedures while there was no transparency and accountability which led to reckless disbursement of 481,167,636 cedis
On March 1st an extraordinary Congress of the GFA set up a nine member committee to review the audited Accounts of the Association for the period ending 31st December, 2000 to investigate how the CAF grant was disbursed.
The committee reviewed all disbursements relating to the grant vis a vis the statement of account for CAN 2000 as submitted by the Accounts Department of the GFA.
The report said by virtue of their positions, Alhaji Jawula and Mr Agrah, signed most of the cheques for disbursement and authorisation was always made by Alhaji Jawula while payments were made upon certification by Mr Agrah.
The committee noted that, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, by letters, authorised the GFA to pay for some expenditures to be reimbursed in due course which included 37,749, 444 cedis for the clearing of chairs imported by Ghamson (GH) Ltd.
An amount of 250 million cedis was paid to Universal Travels to cover Air tickets for CAF officials, while 30 million cedis went to Triumph Industries for dismantling scoreboards and 60 million cedis was paid to Parks and Gardens for re-grassing the playing turf in Kumasi and Accra.
The GFA also dolled out 25 million cedis to Kum Furniture for CAN 2000 furniture and paid 18, 418,192 cedis to Ghana Supply Commission for the clearing of score board equipment.
Dygate (Gh) Ltd. also had 60 million Cedis for the renovation of the Kumasi and Accra stadiums.
The committee said it found no problem with the advances by the GFA, however, it noted with concern the absence of appropriate invoices, receipts, demand notices and other relevant attachments from the Ministry of Youth and Sports to regularise these transactions.
The committee observed irregularities in some of the disbursement which includes, a requested two million Cedis by Mr Kojo Fianoo being accountable imprest for contingent expenses on the Black Stars for which he was given only 500, 000 thousand cedis.
Mr Agrah and Alhaji Jawula are yet to retire their imprest of 500, 000 thousand cedis each.
The committee noted that no invoices were submitted, neither was there any evidence of receipt of clothes and their distribution by Chief Aryee Enterprise for the purchase of 23 million cedis wax prints for CAN 2000.
With 20 million cedis being accountable imprest to meet protocol, administrative and exigency expenses for CAN 2000 by the General Secretary, the committee noted that quantum of the imprest was rather high notwithstanding the fact that the General Secretary was not a member of the protocol Committee of CAN 2000.
It was irregular for him to have been given imprest for protocol related activities while the chairman of the Protocol Committee was not even aware of the imprest for protocol.
It said while the guests for the tournament lodged in a hotel and the LOC was expected to settle every bill, the general secretary collected 20 million cedis which he claimed to have used to provide the guests with drinks and provisions which the GFA stores never received.
The committee was not happy that 25 million cedis being an accountable imprest had to be carried to a recognised restaurant like the dynasty by a top GFA official, like Ade Coker for a dinner for CAF delegates for which there were no invoices nor any receipt attached to the voucher indicating the number of people who attended the dinner.
It was surprising to note that the cheque for the amount was issued before the memo requesting for it was written.
Acorn Forex Bureau received 23 million cedis being part payment for souvenirs, hospitality for match officials and CAF/FIFA delegates to CAN 2000 of which there was no evidence of authorisation of payment nor any receipt for expenses made for which refund was being claimed.
There was no indication of types of souvenirs purchased and the beneficiaries involved while Acorn Forex Bureau made no request for the payment, but strangely the FA chairman made a request on behalf of Acorn Forex Bureau. The committee was therefore not satisfied with this payment.
The Black Meteors per diem of 97,120 thousand cedis was changed for 24,280 dollars at 4,000 Cedis per dollar from Acorn Forex Bureau, thus bringing the total per diem to 21, 900 dollars. There was no explanation on how the balance of 2,380 dollars, which was kept by Ade Coker was used.
On the Black Stars per diem of 22,121 dollars for a training match in Egypt, no receipt for the amount was attached and there was no list of players attached showing disbursement.
GRi…/
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Congress confirms winner takes all
Accra (Greater Accra) 05 April 2001
The issue of home clubs taking all gate proceeds after a league match (winner takes all) agreed by the Ghana League Clubs Associations (GHALCA) at its last meeting, was on Wednesday endorsed by the GFA congress at its emergency meeting in Accra after a heated debate.
Hitherto, the gate proceeds were shared, twelve-and-half percent to the GFA, 10 per cent to the national Sports Council, two-and-a half per cent to the GHALCA, five per cent to the away team and the home team taking the 65 per cent.
However, due to lack of transparency in the declaration of the gate proceeds, most away teams hardly get anything at all. As a result, the GHALCA met about two weeks ago and agreed on a winner takes all after a 9-5 votes.
But the issue nearly took a different turn at today's congress, when Mr Abu Alhassan Jones of Real Tamale United and Mr Welberforce Abra Appiah of Okwawu United challenged the decision.
They said that since facilities were not evenly distributed and the fact that teams using the Accra and Kumasi Stadia stand to benefit at the expense of the smaller clubs, it was not prudent for congress to endorse it.
This generated a heated debate with virtually the entire house against the two gentlemen.
After a while, chairman of Congress Justice Ampiah tabled the two motions before the house and by a 32-12 votes congress agreed that home teams after deducting what is due the GFA, GHALCA, NSC and other expenses involved in the printing of tickets should take the rest.
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League starts on
Saturday April 14 instead
Accra (Greater Accra) 05 April
2001
This year's premier league
commences on Saturday, April 14 instead of the previously announced Sunday
April 15, because of the Hearts of Oak and Etoile de Congo's Champions League
preliminary match at the Kumasi Sports stadium for the same Sunday.
Consequently, the league has been
changed from ABC premier League to "Star" premier league, and a new
logo would be launched this Friday.
Acting GFA chairman, Owusu Ansah
who said this at the GFA emergency meeting in Accra on Wednesday explained that
the league was pushed forward to avoid a clash because King Faisal are
originally schedule to welcome new entrants Adansiman United at the same venue
and date.
As a result the Hearts-Liberty
match would remain outstanding and would be scheduled at a later date.
Mr Owusu Ansah called on the 16
clubs to ensure a very competitive league adding that any club which tries to
prevent the GFA from achieving that objective would be dealt with according to
its rules.
He warned club officials to talk
to their supporters saying any club which allows its members to misbehave,
would have their subsequent matches moved to another centre.
"If you love the GFA, please
obey our rules", Mr Owusu Ansah said.
GRi…/
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Sunyani (Brong Ahafo Region) 05 April
2001
A prominent Sunyani-based lawyer,
Nana Obiri Boahen, has been appointed the new executive chairman of premier
division side, Bofoakwa Tano football club in Sunyani,
News of his appointment, which
will initially last for one football season, was contained in a letter dated
April 12, 2001 and signed by Dr Kofi Asare, Chairman of the board of directors
of the club.
Nana Obiri Boahen, a long time
supporter of the club replaces Mr J.Y. Appiah, Ghalca Chairman, who asked to be
relieved of the chairmanshhip of the club, after leading it to register a
modest success in last years football season.
Nana Obiri Boahen's appointment
letter granted him the right to constitute his own management team which would
be answerable to the board of the club.
Dr Asare congratulated Nana Obiri
Boahen on his appointment and urged him to put his rich experience at the
disposal of the club to enable it recapture its past glories.
"We are entrusting the day to
day administration of the club into your hands because we firmly believe that
you have what it takes to lift it from the doldrums to the top flight of Ghana
soccer."
Dr Asare added that the board
would not hesitate to renew the mandate of Nana Obiri Boahen at the end of the
season if he performs creditably.
Meanwhile a number of Bofoakwa
Tano's supporters whom the GNA talked to have welcomed the appointment of Nana
Obiri Boahen as the executive chairman of their darling club.
GRi…/
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