Ghana Football Association (GFA) has described as malicious, reports circulating on social media that the federation has failed to render proper accounts in an apparel deal with sports kit manufacturer, Puma.
Atinka TV and Atinka FM reports last week regarding the Puma apparel contract with the GFA shocked the sporting fraternity with sports pundits and the general public pointing accusing fingers to the GFA for failing to reveal the full details and specifics of the contract which has been in existence since 2005.
Atinka FM’s Saddick Adams in a TV show revealed a document covering a draft agreement between the GFA and Puma of which a portion revealed that Puma paid the GFA a fixed amount of €900,000 every year.
He further accused the GFA President, Mr. Kwasi Nyantakyi, as the only person with the knowledge of how the funds from the agreement are received and disbursed.“Aside the supply of apparels, the German kit company pays the Ghana FA an “ANNUAL FIXED FEE” of €900,000. First tranche of € 425,000 in June, and the remainder before 31st of December every year, “part of the document read.
But in response to the claims, the GFA in a press release has directed the general public to discredit the reports. The release according to the GFA is ‘maliciously false and a calculated attempt to cause damage to the GFA and Mr. Kwasi Nyantakyi.’
GFA disclosed that the contract with Puma is not the preserve of the President of the federation alone. The GFA further indicated that minutes from the meeting and other related engagements with the Executive Committee members have not been concealed because the FA believed in accountability.
“The financial gains from our contract with Puma are paid directly into the accounts of the GFA and captured in our annual audited accounts. The audited accounts are also made available to our members at Congress. All funds from Puma – and indeed all our sponsors are received directly by the GFA through our accounts and properly accounted for as can be seen in our audited accounts by the Auditor General of Ghana”. The statement read.
Meanwhile, the GFA has warned that it will pursue legal action over the reputational damage suffered by the federation and its President, Mr. Kwasi Nyantakyi, over the alleged report.