Togbe Afede is not dictator – Ankrah

Hearts General Manager Gerald Ankrah has jumped to the defence of under-fire majority shareholder Togbe Afede XIV insisting he’s not a dictator.

The newly appointed chief claims the revered chief of the Asogli traditional area is not a dictator but a team player.

The economist has come under line of fire since he bought majority shares in the club with claims he has hijacked the former Africa champions.

But Mr Ankrah has rubbished such suggestions, claiming they are wide off the mark.

“Since Togbe Afede took over the club as the majority shareholder from 2012, some media houses keep on reporting that the Board chairman dictates to the other Board members,” he told the Ghanaian media.

“But if you look at the caliber of personalities on the club’s Board comprising of Dr Nyaho Tamakloe, Her lordship Ivy Heward-Mills and others, Togbe can’t dictate to them because when coach Duncan’s sacking issue came the Board met thinking of rescinding the decision but Dr Nyaho Tamakloe kicked against it and the Board’s decision stood so on this score how can the Board chairman be a dictator.”

Hearts have struggled for form this season in the Ghanaian top-flight but negotiated their qualification to the next stage of the CAF Confederation at the expense of AS Police of Benin.