Let's get to the bottom of match-fixing allegation
When they were least expected to survive, Ghana's senior football team, the Black Stars, gave a good account of themselves when they played Germany in their second Group G match at the ongoing World Cup in Brazil.
But what should have been the talk of the town after that sterling performance which saw the Stars draw 2-2 with the Germans was overshadowed by a report of a match-fixing scandal by The Telegraph in London.
The claim by The Telegraph, on which a documentary has also been screened on English Channel 4, is implicating the President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Mr Kwesi Nyantakyi, as having agreed to a deal by a UK-based company.
There has not been any evidence of the involvement of the GFA President in that discussion, nor is there a copy of a signed contract affirming that discussion.
The GFA has come out to strongly deny the claim and said it has not agreed to any deal and that all that the president did was to receive a proposal which he had referred to the Legal Committee of the FA.
While it will be childish to simply rubbish the report by The Telegraph, particularly the part implicating the GFA and its president, there are some facts that are worth noting.
Considering the stature of Ghana football on the world stage, the Daily Graphic believes it is important to get to the bottom of the issue and come out with the truth.
Already, football's world governing body, FIFA, says it has received the GFA's complaint and it will launch a probe into the allegation.
The GFA's Ethics Committee also says it will launch an investigation.
The GFA claims it has reported the issue to the Ghana Police Service for investigation, all in a bid to establish the truth.
If, indeed, there is proof and those named are found culpable, then the men should be made to face the music, not just being banned from football. The case must be treated as a criminal one, as it has dragged the reputation of the country into the mud.
On the other hand, if it turns out to be untrue, the right things must be done, including using the same platform to clear the name of the Ghana FA.
Certainly, the dust will settle, but there is no doubt that this piece of unwelcome news has dampened the spirit of Ghana as far as the competition is concerned.
The Black Stars, the technical bench and FA officials should not be distracted by this allegation to take their focus away from the crucial match against Portugal tomorrow.
