Dzamefe Commission report left to rot?

Several months after the Justice Dzamefe Commission report was released and government issued a White Paper on it, the public is yet to know what action has been taken against persons indicted.

In the White Paper, government-ordered investigations into the financial dealings of the Ghana Football Association and its president, Kwesi Nyantakyi, with regard to matches played in the lead-up to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

The report stated that government would look into claims of losses totalling $1,002,000 during the matches involving Ghana and Cape Verde, Ghana and Nigeria, and Ghana and Togo.

The investigations would also establish the claim by the GFA that the $350,000 was received from the Japan friendly game was used to offset the deficit incurred in the Ghana–Cape Verde qualifying match for the World Cup.

The finances of Kwesi Nyantakyi were also to be looked into to ascertain how he used $200,000 which was paid to him by the state towards a friendly match while the Black Stars were preparing for the World Cup.

Government, in the White Paper, also backed the recommendation from the Dzamefe report, which called for investigations into the unaccounted expenditure of GH¢189,000 with regard to the amount spent on Ghanaian fans who travelled to Brazil.

The White Paper from government also acknowledged the “co-efficient theory and definition of management” by the Kwesi Nyantakyi, the president of the Ghana Football Association, directing that it should be dismissed.

Government also stated in the release that only five members of the Black Stars management team should have received monies meant for appearance fees.

The White Paper then recommends in Paragraph 3.8 that the Ghana Football Association should fully disclose the financial details involved in organising friendly matches.

These details should include the expenditure and costs incurred in putting together these friendly matches.

These details are to be made public after the said match has been played.
Sponsorship funds and expenditure for all friendly matches must be made part of the GFA’s budget before the start of the year.

The White Paper was issued in June this year.

Almost five months down the lane, Ghanaians are yet to be told what has happened so far.

All expenses raise serious questions about how taxpayers’ money is being misused by duty bearers.

Corruption is undoubtedly the current hot-button topic in Ghana.
It is clear that corruption has a strong potential to steal the wealth of a nation and impoverish its people.

The more corrupt a country is, the lower its economic growth rate. No wonder Ghana’s growth is at its lowest in recent time.

Corruption, no matter how it is defined, affects every nation. Its negative effects have long been recognised, and several nations are tackling this menace with all the seriousness it deserves.

Now is the time to stop the rampant corruption dead in its tracks and for Ghana and Ghanaians to survive and thrive.