Angolan Feeds Fat on Ghana’s Cash

Black StarsGhana has doled out nearly $20,000 to an Angolan agent in Brazil for using his account to transfer funds to Brazilian service providers at the 2014 World Cup tournament.

Lawrence Acheampong, who blew the cover told the Presidential Commission of Inquiry in Accra that he was “the eyes, ears and voice” of the former Sports Minister, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah as he confirmed these revelations.

Mr Acheampong who did not have any official position in the Brazil World committee was taking his turn at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on Monday.

The Commission headed by Justice Dzamefe is investigating Ghana’s poor showing at the Brazil tournament held in June-July this year.

In spite of the IT consultant traveling to Brazil three times to study the place and prepare the grounds for the fans and officials, Lawrence Acheampong said the committee still needed the Angolan agent to show the delegation where to buy foodstuff for the caterers.

In a particular instance, about $4,000 was paid to the agent for providing directions to the Supermarket called Redemais.

He admitted to the presidential commission that the agent was paid nearly $4,000 as commission for each of the five transactions he made on behalf of Ghana.

Despite having a Ghana embassy in Brazil, the operations team, he said, contracted the agent to facilitate the payment of purchases from the Supermarket.

Ghana could not immediately get the services of any bank in Brazil to help with the transfer of funds to service providers, he maintained.

“Thinking on his feet” as problems mounted, the Angolan agent was the best choice under the circumstances.

Lawrence who described himself as a “utility player” said he  deputized for Elvis Afriyie Ankrah at sub-committee meetings.

The Commission had a hard time getting facts from Mr. Acheampong who was highly evasive during the hearing at the Accra Sports Stadium.

African Eye News

 

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