Robert Boateng cost $800,000.00

It came to light at the player transfer Commission of Inquiry's sitting on Robert Boateng, a player of Kumasi Asante Kotoko was transferred to Rossenberg for 800,000 dollars and not 250,000 dollars.

Mr. Herbert Mensah, Board Chairman of Kotoko, told the Commission chaired by Justice Sule Gbadegbe that though there were no proper records on players that the club had transferred before taking over, he managed to lay hands on a few, including Boateng's transfer. Mr. Mensah, who took over as Kotoko's boss in February this years, said his administration became so concerned about Boateng's transfer because of a clause in the agreement. He said the clause gives the agent, Mr. Welbert Anderson, a 50-50 per cent share of the money if the amount was in excess of 100,000 dollars.

Mr. Mensah said it was then that he got in touch with the Norwegian club and he was told that the player was "bought" for 800,000 dollars. He said he was informed later by the club that the actual amount involved was 600,000 dollars and that the 200,000 was for the agent. The Kotoko boss said according to Rossenberg the player was entitled to 10,000 dollars a month as salary and not 1,500 dollars reported by George Adusei-Poku's (Georgido) administration.

When cross-examined, Georgido, now chairman of Swedru All Blacks, admitted that the player was transferred for 800,000 dollars and explained that though the agreement may not be the best, he needed to accept the terms to enable the club to pay its debtors. Mr. Adusei-Poku said since he was solely handling the club and the fact that his debtors were harassing him, he had no option than to agree to whatever contract under the circumstance.

When asked why the contract documents he presented to the Kotoko Board at that time did not reflect the said 50-50 per cent agreement of 300,000 dollars and not 250,000 dollars he said the balance of 50,000 dollars was used to offset debts. He explained that in 1997, the club participated in a competition in Sweden with the sole aim of "selling" the players to offset some of the clubs debts. Mr. Georgido said the organizers bore the traveling expenses with the promise that Kotoko would pay later. He said he used 50,000 dollars of Boateng's transfer fee of 300,000 dollars at the end of the tournament to settle that debt.

But Mr. Mensah alleged that the money was not paid to Kotoko directly but through a member of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) in Nana Sam Brew Butler's administration. He, therefore, appealed to the Commission to summon the following people who might have had something to do with the transfer of Kotoko players before it.

Mr. Mensah called for an investigation into the transfer of Prince Amoako (40,000 dollars), Kojo Anane and Dada Asamoah (both for 30,000 dollars), Nana Dartei, Abu Siad (15,000 dollars), Ahmed Siad (35,000 dollars) and Frank Amankwa (75,000 marks) who were transferred under Georgido's administration. Georgido admitted that though he transferred the players he never lived to enjoy the "fruits" because he was thrown out of office by the E. K. Adu's administration adding that E.k. Adu should be held responsible.

He alleged that he was later informed by the agent that the 200,000 dollars the Rossenberg club offered the agent, was Boateng's enticement fee but the player said he never received it. Georgido said he managed to give the player 25,000 dollars as his enticement fee.

Earlier Mr. Abdul Karim Alhassan, Secretary of Real Tamale United could not tell when Mohammed Gargo was transferred. He said when he took over in 1995 the player had already been transferred but the Commission said the GFA records have it that the player was transferred in 1996 which contradicts the secretary's claim. The Commission asked the RTU to furnish it with the transfer documents of Abu Iddrisu, Damba Abukari Somah Weah, Ahmed Tigani and Shila Alhassan who according to the GFA's records were transferred at one time or the other.

It also asked Mr. Jones Abu Alhassan of the RTU, who is believed to have signed most of the contract agreements especially that of Abu Iddrisu, to appear before it at it next sitting. - GNA