Agent took almost $20,000 to help purchase food stuff

Samuel Ebo Kwaitoo Sports News Sep - 16 - 2014 , 07:22

The agent who facilitated the supply of ingredients for the Ghanaian caterers in Brazil was paid almost US$20,000 commission for his two-week service as discovered by the Justice

Dzamefe Commission Monday.

The total amount of US$19,831 represented a 10 per cent share enjoyed by Al-Continental for the five consignments delivered at the Ghanaian supporters’ camp during the period.

Expenditure details

Lawrence (Larry) Acheampong, a liaison officer for the former Sports Minister, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, told the commission that he accompanied Fred Darko for the first shopping at a

supermarket in Natal but did not know the cost since that was not his schedule.

But during cross-examination, Justice Senyo Dzamefe put to him from a document in evidence that the agent was paid $4,130 commission, being 10 per cent of the total cost of items

bought on the first day, while transportation by the supermarket van to the camp amounted to $1,960.

He also could not explain why the fourth purchase order totalled $51,000 at a time the supporters’ number in camp was dwindling.

Contrary to an earlier evidence given to the commission by one of the caterers, Mrs Gertrude Quashigah, on what transpired on the first shopping day, Mr Acheampong emphasised

that he actually called her on phone for the list of items needed and went on to name them all to the commission.

Asked how payment was made for the items purchased, he said he did not have those details since it was Fred Darko who signed for it. He also could not comment on the details of

the contract with the Angolan agent, but pointed out that Fred Darko had the invoices and was in the process of sorting things out with the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MOYS).

He, however, stressed that the agent who introduced them to the supermarket also rendered some protocol services and provided buses for the event organisers.

According to him, apart from the first shopping, the three caterers went to the supermarket themselves in the four subsequent visits, while reconciling the delivery with their list.

Functions

Acheampong, who described himself as the eyes and ears of the former Sports Minister, revealed that he travelled to Brazil on three occasions with different delegations in February,

April and June to inspect facilities and interact with officials and their contact on the ground, Al-Continental, which secured the Mardunas Resort in the outkirt of Natal where the

supporters lodged.

As a liaison between the chairpersons of the various sub-committees and the minister, he said he was mainly inspired by the Coat of Arms in his line of duty but did not enjoy any

financial benefit apart from the initial $100 per diem and tips from the minister.

He also disclosed that the operational team nearly settled for a university facility which was just a walking distance to the Natal stadium but were later informed by the president of the

institution that it was against FIFA’s regulations to site an activation centre within that radius.

When asked if the team called upon the Ghana mission in Brazil for assistance, he said the leader of the delegation first contacted the Ambassador but he said they did not provide

any major help since they had some general difficulties.

In an answer to a question as to why the team decided to transfer money into the agent’s accounts, instead of the Ghana Embassy accounts or a bank in Brazil when they were

confronted with the financial challenges, Mr Acheampong said that might not have solved the problem since the Ghana mission was based in Ismailia.

Mr Acheampong, an IT Consultant and owner of Hokmah Solutions, expressed shock at the behaviour of some of the caterers before the commission, saying that all of them were so

happy when they were paid in Brazil.

According to him, an overjoyed Monica Yawa Ntumy of Monees Foods virtually lay prostrate after receiving her share of $19,200. Monees Foods is on record to have told the

commission last Thursday that it was not making any further demands, unlike her colleagues.

Assets declaration

When confronted with the question as to whether he owned any property, he laughed and answered in the negative, adding that his only asset was his Acura saloon car.

He agreed with the commission that there were some shortcomings which needed to be improved in future and noted that what happened in Brazil was a blessing in disguise to inform

organisers on how caterers would be engaged in future.

Camp Commandant’s evidence

Concluding his evidence, Agbesi Nutsu, who was the camp commandant, told the commission that he only got to know of the change in arrangement on the day of arrival of the

caterers in Brazil and merely witnessed the aqcuisition of the first consignment in camp.

Asked whether he had any confrontation with the supporters, he said it was not exactly so but an incident happened at the Fortaleza airport after Ghana’s second match, with

Germany in Fortaleza which resulted in the dumping of refuse in his room by some angry supporters.

He said after the match he was told that Ivan Bruce Cudjoe of Travel Matters had sent a message that they should wait till 11p.m. for boarding.

However, he said the entire group ended up sleeping overnight at the airport after many excuses until the following day when they finally flew back to Natal.

According to him, he realised on their return that the fans were furious but he calmed them down with the explaination that he had no hand in what happened, resulting in the decision

by some supporters to tidy up his room.

He also told the commission that he was paid no per diem for his services, neither did the supporters also receive any per diem, contrary to the initial proposal.

He described the conditions in the Brazil camp as being far better that what pertained in South Africa during the previous World Cup and thanked the commission for giving him the

opportunity to explain what actually transpired since there were too many exaggerations.

Mr Nutsu, who played the same role at South Africa 2010, stressed on the need for the country to concentrate on the core supporters and discard the holiday makers who usually

create problems in camp.

Today’s sitting

The headline sponsor of the Black Stars, Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), will take its turn today at 10a.m.

Other witnesses in line are the representatives of the various supporters unions.

{module share}