Police, Dzamefe Commission Wade Into Afriyie-Ankrah Bribery Allegations

The World Cup Commission of Inquiry and the Ghana Police Service are studying the ongoing allegations leveled against former Sports Minister, Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah. Citi Sports sources at the Justice Senyo Dzamefe led-commission say that since the three-member body has not yet submitted their report to the President, they are concerned that sections of the media may be overstepping their boundaries with the reportage of kickbacks allegedly taken by the Mr. Afriyie Ankrah. On Monday, a report by Accra-based Joy FM accused the embattled ex-Sports Minister of taking bribes from a company called E-Volution International during the World Cup as part of GHS 1 million contract awarded to establish viewing centres for fans to watch World Cup matches. E-Volution was the marketing agency in charge of providing fan parks around the country during the World Cup, but Afriyie-Ankrah yesterday told Citi Sports that the allegations are false. �We appreciate the fact that media are taking their watchdog roles seriously but we are studying this case to make sure the media reportage is not in contempt of our work,� the source within the Dzamefe Commission said late on Monday night. �For all you know, the evidence the media seek to make their reportage more rounded is in our possession, that�s why we would have appreciated it if the media collaborated with us more on issues such as these.� Police angle Meanwhile, The Police at the Ministries have invited Manasseh Azure-Awuni, the journalist who is making the case against the former Sports Minister. A source with knowledge of the case told Citi Sports that Darko said on December 18 that signatures being attributed to him by the journalist were forgeries. The statement written at the Ministries Police station by Fred Darko also suggested that the Manasseh used underhand tactics such as impersonation to arrange an interview with him [Darko]. Background According to the Joy FM report, E-Volution International, an events and marketing agency, was awarded a GH� 1 million contract to organise four public viewing centres in Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi during the 2014 Brazil World Cup. But apart from the Accra Mall, the other three public viewing centres showed only the three group matches Ghana played in the tournament. The allegations say three separate internal payment vouchers were approved for payment of money to former Youth and Sports Minister, the GNPC and the operations committee of the Brazil 2014 World Cup. All the three payment vouchers, dated June 11, 2014, are signed and approved by the C.E.O of E-volution International, Mr Fred Darko. Darko was also the project coordinator for the 2014 World Cup.