Ex-Kotoko goalie Sam Ampeh weeps on air as he recounts how club framed him with bribery allegations

Former Kumasi Asante Kotoko goalkeeper, Sam Ampeh, was visibly distraught as he shared the challenges he faced due to bribery accusations made by the club's management and supporters against him in 1981.

Ampeh recounted that following a loss to a Guinean club in the CAF Champions League that year, the club's management concocted allegations that he had accepted bribes from the opposing team.

Ampeh, bewildered by the management's inability to understand his concession of three goals at what was considered the height of his career, has opened up about the incident in a recent interview on Accra-based Peace FM.

He became emotional as he described how his residence at Kumasi was vandalized by angry Kotoko fans, leading to his eviction.

Reflecting on the Guinea match, Ampeh told Peace FM, "We secured a 1-0 victory at home but suffered a 3-1 defeat away. It was during Papa Camara's time; they were a strong team. The rumours started in Guinea, grew on the flight back, and reached a peak when we landed in Ghana. The club's management was unhappy with me, even though I hadn't committed any blatant errors to warrant the fans' allegations.

"Upon my return to Kumasi, I found my home destroyed, with all my possessions inside. The anger was directed at me because of claims that I had taken a bribe from the Guinean club. My landlord evicted me, and I couldn't retrieve my belongings because the carpenters had sealed the place. At the station, no driver would let me on their vehicle, as I had become an outcast."

Ampeh stood firm on his innocence, stating that he did not take any bribes from the Guinean club and was a victim of defamation.

He also spoke of the profound effect the allegations had on his mother, which ultimately led to her demise.

"I'm from Akuapem, and I've lost both parents. The bribery allegations from Asante Kotoko's management deeply affected my mother. She defended my innocence but eventually passed away due to the stress," Ampeh shared with Dan Kwaku Yeboah.



EK/MA