Bahmed accuses supporters group of extortion

Alhaji Ahmed Bandoh, Chief Executive Officer of Bahmed Travel and Tours has accused leaders of some of the supporter’s group of extorting money from fans before putting them on trips.

Alhaji Bandoh said “some supporters groups have turned themselves into money making organisations instead of organising genuine fans to competitions”.

Alhaji Bandoh, who testified before the Justice Dzamefe Commission on Thursday, added that, 80 per cent of supporters who travel, abscond during such trips but stated that, there was little travel agents could do about it.

He said, it was the responsibility of embassies and high commissions to determine who they give visas to.

Alhaji Bahmed also suggested that, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) should devout part of monies accrued from participating in the World Cup into the organisation of supporters to competition in future.

“The era of government sponsoring supporters to competitions should be over. There is too much pressure on the government and it’s time to review the practice.

“We should also be looking at corporate sponsorship as well as effective organisation of the supporter’s body,” he added.

According to Bahmed the number of supporters sent to Brazil for the World Cup were too many adding that, there was the need to organise Ghanaians around the world to support the Black Stars in future.

“There are Ghanaians scattered all over the world so in future we have to fall on them by mobilising them to support the Black Stars.

“This will be much cheaper than the present practice of mobilising 600 supporters from here to Brazil to support the team”.