The National Democratic Congress has issued a statement calling on the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to inform Ghanaians about the status of their investigations into the Nyantayi Bribery scandal, which in the view of the Party tarnished the image of Ghanaians and Ghana.
The Party’s statement is a reaction to FIFA’s decision to ban the former President of the Ghana Football Association, Kwesi Nyantakyi from all football related activities for life.
The opposition National Democratic Congress as expected is probably making attempts to gain some Political score from the FIFA announcement, by reviving the fact that, Mr. Nyantakyi mentioned the name of the President of Ghana as his “ally” in his interaction with the supposed investor, as captured on video released by the Tiger Eye PI.
In the view of the NDC, once the President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo was mentioned by Mr. Nyantakyi as a beneficiary of whatever he(Nyantakyi was going to gain), he (the President) should also be investigated to ascertain his level of involvement.
The Party wants President Akufo-Addo to open himself up for transparent and credible investigations by an independent body to clear his name in the said matter.
Surprisingly, the National Democratic Congress decided to target only President Akufo-Addo, in this statement leaving out the Vice President Alhaji Mahamadu Bawumia, who was also mentioned in the Tiger Eye PI.
It is surprising because in recent time, Alhaji Bawumia has been a key subject in many NDC “attacks” on the government.
Below is the full statement from the National Democratic Congress, signed by its National Organizer, Kofi Adams.
For immediate release
National Democratic Congress Statement on FIFA’s Lifetime Ban of Kwasi Nyantakyi
The National Democratic Congress has taken note of FIFA’s lifetime ban imposed on Mr. Kwesi Nyantakyi, the former President of the Ghana Football Association and a close confidant of President Akuffo-Addo.
This lifetime ban is the result of painstaking investigations conducted by the investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, which exposed corruption and bribery involving senior Ghana Football Association officials.
FIFA’s decision to ban Mr. Nyantakyi after months of rigorous investigations raises serious questions about the involvement of President Akuffo-Addo in the bribery scandal; and also brings to the fore, once again, the need for the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to inform Ghanaians about the status of their investigations into this scandal which has tarnished the image of Ghanaians and Ghana.
It would be recalled that Mr. Nyantakyi was caught on video revealing very worrying corrupt practices and in the process implicated the President of the Republic, H. E. Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo as the head of a bribe collection syndicate at the Presidency.
More pointedly, Mr. Nyantakyi was seen in the said tape, arranging for the payment of $ 5 million to the President and similar amounts for several top government officials, in order to facilitate the award of juicy contracts to supposed investors.
Mr. Nyantakyi also suggested in the said video, that such acts have made the President amenable to his influence.
We are appalled, that unlike FIFA, the government of Ghana has made little effort to look into the matter with a view to bringing culpable officials to book, despite available evidence.
We find as completely inadequate, the purported investigation by the Police CID whose conduct has served to compromise any outcome.
We urge President Akufo-Addo to open himself up for transparent and credible investigations by an independent body to clear his name in the said matter.
We expect that government will take a cue from FIFA’s firm action and take steps to put this matter to rest in a manner that restores dignity and confidence in the integrity of the Presidency and our football as a whole.
Signed,
Kofi Adams
(National Organiser)
30th October, 2018
