Fate of hundreds of fans in a balance at Ghana camp

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

Pretoria, June 28, GNA - The fate of close to 200 soccer fans who came to South Africa to support the Black Stars seem to be in a balance, after claims that the government has evacuated all sponsored soccer fans back to Ghana.

The Soccer fans at the Muzinda Residence in Western Pretoria claim they came on the ticket of the government sponsored delegation to South Africa but have been left to their fate after they were told the last flight of government sponsored fans left for Accra on Sunday.

The supporters close to 200 are still resident in the official camp, the Muzinda Residence in Western Pretoria, not knowing when and how they will go back to Ghana as at the close of Sunday, June 27. In addition, the supporters claimed they had been told by the management of the residence that their contract with the government had expired and were to pack out by the close of Monday, June 28. In view of this, they were denied lunch on Sunday afternoon by the officials of the residence due to the expiration of the contract. But for the intervention of Solomon Yaw Nkansah, Deputy National Propaganda Secretary, of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), the fans would have gone to bed on empty stomach.

Through the efforts of Yaw Nkansah and other party officials also at the residence, the hungry fans were served with three slices of bread, stew, two pieces of fish and a bottle of soft drink each as at 10:00pm. Yaw Nkansah, however, gave the assurance that he would remain at the residence till every Ghanaian fan had left for Ghana. According to the supporters, they had on several occasions had names of people to be sent back to Ghana pasted on the notice board but did not find their names on the departure list.

Inquiries made by the GNA Sports reveals that most of the supporters indeed came on the ticket of the government. They include members of the various political parties, the judicial services and some media personnel.

The supporters allege that the Ghanaian coordinator in the camp, whose name they could only give as Edem, was responsible for their plight. They alleged that the coordinator exchanged their names with others who were not supporters supposed to be flown home by the government, hence their situation.

Madam Alice Ofori told the GNA on Monday morning that she regrets embarking on the trip because of the difficulties she was going through. She said though she was willing to go back home, there seemed to be uncertainty over her departure since nothing had been communicated to her. Checks on Monday morning indicate that 75 fans were scheduled to depart South Africa for Ghana in the evening, as efforts were being made to take care of the remaining 123.

According to the information, arrangements were in the offing to send the remaining fans home as soon as possible. 28 June 2010