GFA was only lying to us as FIFA acknowledges Ghana’s Presidential Commission of Inquiry...

FIFA has acknowledged the Presidential Commission of Inquiry looking into Ghana's participation at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Freelance political and Sports Journalist, Listowell Yesu Bukarson in an email, yesterday, sought further clarifications from FIFA in the midst of the controversies surrounding the commission set up by President John Dramani Mahama. 

We produce the mail by Mr. Bukarson and the corresponding FIFA reply:

Listowell Yesu Bukarson's letter:

11th August, 2014

Dear Sir,

Commission of Enquiry into Black Stars performance at the FIFA World Cup.

Greetings from Ghana.

I am a Journalist, PR Practitioner and Sports Administrator.

I have been in Sports journalism since 1st July, 1997 having worked with Kumasi-based (Ghana's second largest city) radio station, KAPITAL Radio 97.1 fm as broadcast Sports Journalist.

I was a stringer (corresponded for Voice of America (VOA) in theUSA. As well as the National Daily Newspaper, Graphic Communications Group Limited as its Ashanti Regional stringer. Reporting mainly for the Graphic Sports.

I helped set up Metro FM 94.1 where i held the office of Administrative and Marketing Manager.

As a sports administrator, I worked for Ghana's biggest and most successful football club, Kumasi Asante Kotoko Sporting Club as the Public Relations and Supporters Manager and later the club's Marketing Manager.

I am currently the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalist Association.

I Am the Chief Executive Officer of Authentic Sports, a sport consortium also based here in Kumasi and Founder and President of Awaambe Sports Academy based in Sandema in the Bulsa District of the Upper East Region of Ghana.

As a Sports and Political journalist, I covered the 2000 General elections in the USA, the 2006 World Cup in Germany and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the African Cup of Nations in Angola, and traveled to over 78 countries as an international journalist.

I was the World Cup 2006 Ambassador for the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Ghana.

Training:

BBC World Service Training in Radio Journalism in 2000

BBC World Service Training in Sports Reporting in 2005

BBC World Service Trust and UK Sports Training in Journalism in Windhoek, Namibia in 2008

DW Academia Training in Radio in current Affairs Reporting in 2009

Training at the International Sports and Cultural Sports Association, ISCA at the MOVE 2010 in Frankfurt, Germany in 2010

Concerns:

Following the performance of the Ghana Black Stars at the just ended FIFA World Cup in Brazil, the nation, noted for its passion for football has been inundated with calls for efforts at investigating the reasons for Ghana's worse outing at the Brazil World Cup.

The President of Ghana per article 278 of the nation's 1992 Constitution set up a Presidential Commission if Inquiry to look into the nation's participation at the prestigious football event.

The Commission started its works today, 11th August 2014.

It has already indicated its desire to defend the sovereignty of the Republic of Ghana, in that it is bent on fairly investigating Ghana's participation at the World Cup without favor or favor.

The Commission has indicated that even though it is not a witch-hunting commission with the powers of a High court, it will ensure that the Ghana Football Association and all other bodies who received public funds account for it.


FIFA Letter:

On the 16th July, 2014, a purported letter, addressed to the GFA President Mr. Kwesi Nyantakyi and signed by Deputy Secretary, Markus Kattner is said to have WARNED the country to desist from interfering in the matters of the GFA because the GFA, like all other Member Associations of FIFA are "autonomous"

Another letter from FIFA dated 7th August, 2014, addressed to the Ag. General Secretary of Ghana's FA, Mr. Emmanuel Gyimah and again, signed by Markus Kettner emphasized FIFA's call on Ghana to be wary of infringing on its regulations as captured in articles 13 and 17 of the FIFA status.

Clarification:

As a Freelance sports and political journalist, I would be grateful if FIFA would be more specific in the interpretations of articles 13 and 17 of the FIFA status to help me write my reports on the happenings in Ghana with regards to the Commission and its work in relation to the nation's participation at the World Cup in Brazil.

I have been compelled to write to your high office, seeking clarification because up till this point, there has not been any independent position on the position of FIFA. This is so because the GFA has not been able to convince Ghanaians on the vivid position of FIFA in all these matters.

Ghana is a passionate football country, and the earlier, the right information is communicated to the Ghanaian people in the face of these on-goings, the better for not the GFA, but FIFA as well.

Counting on you.

Yours Sincerely,

Listowell Yesu Bukarson

Freelance Journalist,

Sports and Political.

Telephone: +233 244 831631


FIFA's Reply:

RE: PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO GHANA'S PARTICIPATION AT THE BRAZIL WORLD CUP.

August 12, 2014, 9:53AM

Dear Listowell,

FIFA has acknowledged the setting-up of a Commission of Enquiry by the Ghanaian government.

We are currently monitoring the situation and can't make further comments for the time being nor speculate on the interpretation of articles 13 and 17.

Kind Regards.

FIFA