Top officials of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), including its president, Kwesi Nyantakyi, have allegedly been exposed for their part in an abortive deal to fix matches for the national team, the Black Stars. Others named in the abortive deal include one Christopher Forsythe and Obed Nketiah, the Chief Executive of premier side Berekum Chelsea FC, who is also a member of the Ghana U-20 management team.
A covert joint investigation by the United Kingdom newspaper, The Telegraph, and Channel 4’s Dispatches programme, claims that Mr. Nyantakyi agreed for the team to play in international matches controlled by match-fixers in return for an agreed sum. The six-month undercover investigation followed the receipt of information that some football associations were planning with some match-fixers to rig scores in international games.
A former FIFA investigator working in tandem with reporters from The Telegraph said they posed as representatives of an investment company that sought to “sponsor” games. It is alleged Mr. Nyantakyi then met the undercover reporter and investigator, along with Mr. Forsythe and Mr. Nketiah, and agreed a contract which stipulated terms for the Black Stars playing in rigged matches, in return for payment. The contract stated that each match thus organized would cost $170,000 and that match officials would be appointed by a bogus investment firm, in breach of Fifa rules.
Unknown to the GFA officials however, the meeting was being secretly filmed. In the video, Messrs. Forsythe and Nketiah could be heard bragging that they could help fix the matches. You [the company] will always have to come to us and say how you want it to go…the result,” said Mr. Forsythe. “That’s why we will get the officials that we have greased their palms, so they will do it. If we bring in our own officials to do the match…You’re making your money.”
He said that match-fixing was a common feature in the modern game and that he could even arrange rigged matches between Ghana and British teams. “Even in England it does happen,” he said. “We will always choose associations or countries that we think we can corrupt their officials for all our matches”, he added. Read more at saharareporters.com
