Emotions went an octave higher on Thursday at the hearings of the Presidential Commission set up to investigate Black Stars shambolic World Cup performance in Brazil as the entire Black Stars team invited by the commission failed to appear.
Chairman of the Commission Justice Dzamefe, read what he described as a �disrespectful� letter to the commission from the team explaining why they could not appear before the commission.
�To be frank this time you goofed. I�m so disappointed,� the Appeals Court judge pointed out to the Ghana FA president Kwesi Nyantakyi and his lawyer Thaddeus Sory, who were present at the hearing.
According to letter signed by the Ghana Football Association attorney, the FA cannot physically drag the players before the commission since they are all �matured� and can�t be forced against their wish.
The letter (from the Ghana FA�s solicitors to the Commission) partly read: ��We have advised our client (GFA boss) to bring to the attention of the players concerned the notice of hearing directly sent to our client� which was duly sent out� We, however, advise our client that he has no authority whatsoever in his capacity as the president of the Ghana FA to physically produce each of the players concerned without interfering with their personal right�
�All the players have attained the age of majority and are of full capacity for which reason they are not subject to our client�s direct control in their individual and personal capacities saved for the limited purposes the GFA has procured their consent and that of their clubs to travel to Ghana from their respective club bases.
�The GFA�s arrangement with each of the players concerned and their respective clubs only permits the Association to hold unto them until after the competitive match of the Black Stars on Wednesday after which each of the players is no longer under the Association�s control�
�We trust that we have sufficiently explained to the Commission our client�s effort to comply with the Commission�s request within his very limited capacity and to the extent to which it is legally permissible by our client so to do.�
But a livid Justice Dzamefe, after reading the letter to the public, said the commission felt disrespected by the conduct of the entire team who are paid with state funds adding that they missed an �opportunity to tell their side of their story� in Brazil.
However, the FA Boss, Kwesi Nyantakyi, tried to calm matters by apologizing on behalf the players to the commission.
Seeking to hold brief for the players for their inability to appear before the commission, he explained that some of the players were to leave this morning (Thursday) and could not make it.
He stated that the skipper of the side Asamoah Gyan had a match tomorrow (Friday) and needed to leave today.
He said efforts were being made to get Asamoah Gyan to appear before the Commission, even if briefly, to answer whatever questions members of the commission had for him.
Notwithstanding this, it was clear the panel were unconvinced with his apology and explanations.
Lawyer Moses Foh-Amoaning, a member of the Commission, called on the current Black Stars squad, which he sees as �arrogant and unpatriotic� to be humble in their career.
�I am hoping some close to them [Black Stars] will give them this message,� he said
To him, the current team might set a bad record for themselves if precautions are not taking to direct the team.
�They will go down as the most disrespectful group ever,� he opined
Part of the FA's letter had suggested that the Commission could contact the clubs of the various players to make them appear before the Commission.
To that Foh Amoaning stated; "the FA can engage in all legalese they want, but Ghanaians are not silly; they are not fools."
"The conduct of the players is an utmost disrespect to Ghanaians and they owe all of us a huge apology."
Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Email:[email protected]
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