Ghana's opposition attacks 2014 World Cup commission report as 'fraudulent and bogus'
Nana Obiri-Buahen, a legal luminary, has described government's white paper on Ghana's 2014 World Cup commission as 'fraudulent and bogus', insisting the report is useless and only fit to be used as wrappers for roasted plaintain, groundnuts and doughnuts 'bofrot'.
The leading member of the opposition NPP party launched the astonishing attack on the report claiming it sought to protect leading members of the ruling NDC party involved in Ghana's campaign in Brazil while witch-hunting the leadership of the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
The Attorney General Marietta Appiah-Oppong last week presented a White Paper on the Justice Senyo Dzamefe Commission report that sought to investigate Ghana’s poor showing at the World Cup tournament in Brazil last year.
The findings of the commission looked to have overly concentrated on the GFA while the key issues that affected the country which seems to point at government's direction were largely ignored by the findings of the probe.
Ghana's disgrace at the World Cup was highlighted by government's failure to pay the players after several failed promises which led to the revolt by the Black Stars, the flying of the money to Brazil caused further embarrassment as it was carried on live television and the treatment of supporters also generated added to the shame.
Yet the commission's report seemed to focus on the GFA and its President Kwesi Nyantakyi who is now facing a forensic audit of friendly matches before the World Cup while ignoring the key issues that led to the country's disastrous outing which points at government's failings.
Shockingly, the forensic audit will look into claims of losses totalling $1,002,000 during the matches involving Ghana and Cape Verde, Ghana and Nigeria, and Ghana and Togo even though these matches does not relate to the 2014 World Cup as some of the matches were played way back in 2006.
The report also asked for Nyantakyi to be investigated over the $200,000 for a friendly before the World Cup even though the money was not paid to him personally but was paid to the GFA and failed to provide the reason why he should be held personally responsible.
This view is consistent with long-held fears from the GFA that the Commission's work was expected to provide the launch pad for a major attack on the GFA boss with the aim of removing him from office.
These revelations and suspicion of witch hunt of the GFA while government officials have been shielded in the report is what has sparked members of the opposition to react claiming government is engaged in cover-ups.
Obiri-Buahen, who is the deputy general secretary of the NPP, says the report of the commission must not be taken seriously as the truth has not been unveiled.
"In essence this white paper is bogus and fraudulent. It is only fit for wrapping groundnuts, roasted yam and roasted plantain. Legally it is bogus and fraudulent," Obiri-Buahen told Hot FM in Accra.
"It is a document that does not serve its legal purpose and will not stand any test of time if it challenged in the court of appeal. The key issues have been intentionally ignored while the peripheral issues have been highlighted.
"The report looks to have focused on the GFA while government officials look to have been protected even though they played key roles in the disaster in Brazil."
The Dzamefe Commission was set up by President Mahama in 2014 to look into the circumstances surrounding Ghana's chaotic appearance at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. After the submission of their report, government issued a White paper last week pending the release of the full report. That full report has yet to be made available to the public.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) whose activities according to a recommendation are to be subjected to a forensic audit were forced to cancel a press conference as they wanted their lawyers to make an input into their response to the report.
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