Bribery allegations fly at Ghana camp in Pretoria

From William Ezah, GNA Special Correspondent, Pretoria, South Africa

Pretoria, June 29, GNA - Few days before the departure of the last batch of supporters from the Ghana Supporters camp at Muzinda Residence in Western Pretoria, South Africa, on Tuesday, allegations of bribery and extortions were rife in the camp.

Some soccer fans who went to South Africa on their own but managed to secure a place at the 536-room hostel facility where over 1000 government sponsored supporters lodged accused one of the coordinators at the camp of bribery and extortion.

Mohamed Zaku, a soccer fan, who came to South Africa on his own, alleged that in a bid to get a place on the flight back to Ghana, he paid 1,000 Rands (almost 150 dollars) as bribe to one of the coordinators called Edem Bebeli to facilitate the process.

Mr Bebli, according to some of the supporters, works in the office of Mr Kojo Bonsu, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Sports Council (NSC).

Speaking to the GNA Sports in the presence of Madam Jessie Adams, an officer at the campaign office of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at Kuku Hill Osu, Zaku showed his Air Namibia ticket, which had his return flight to Ghana fixed for July 21, but said he would have problems with accommodation whilst awaiting the scheduled date and therefore approached Mr Bebli for assistance.

According to Zaku, Mr Bebli offered to assist him to get a place on the government flights that were to send the official supporters home, but abandoned him to his fate at the camp after allegedly collecting the money. Zaku claimed he was compelled to sell his HP Laptop to a South African to raise the said amount and had remained stranded at the Ghana camp, as Mr Bebli has left for Ghana with the final batch of supporters who departed South Africa last Saturday evening.

Zaku told the GNA Sports that he was ready to testify before any court or committee when called upon.

Yussif Iddris, also told the GNA Sports that he paid 400 Rand (almost 60$) to Mr Bebli to have his name fixed on the list of supporters to be sent home, but was given a raw deal.

Iddris said he wanted to go to Ghana earlier than his scheduled date of return on his ticket, hence decided to approach Mr Bebli for assistance. Mohamed Ramni also accused Mr Bebli of extorting money from him with the promise of getting him match tickets as well as assisting him to get a place on the flight to Ghana.

Ramni said he bought a match ticket of the Ghana-Germany game from Mr Bebli for 350 Rands (50$), as the latter was also in charge of tickets for supporters in the camp.

Ramni alleged that some of his friends also made payments to Mr Bebli for similar assistance and managed to join the flights to Ghana. Mr Sam Nii Bonney Quist, the Chief Coordinator at the Muzinda Residence told the GNA Sports that he had received similar complaints and allegations from some supporters against Mr Beblie but said the issue will be given attention on return to Ghana.

"Until the allegations are investigated and confirmed, they remain so," he said, but assured the aggrieved persons that the issue will be given a thorough hearing in Accra.