Abbey angry over ‘wicked’ accusations of snubbing President Mills

Ghana FA spokesman Randy Abbey has described as ‘wicked and vile’ a publication in a local newspaper that he snubbed the country’s president when he visited the World Cup team in South Africa.

Abbey, who is also a television anchor on political programmes, insists circumstances during President John Atta Mills’ visit to Pretoria at the weekend prevented him greeting the country’s leader.

Local newspaper ‘Informer’ reported that Abbey intentionally refused to acknowledge Prof. Mills but Abbey says the publication is calculated to damage his reputation, disturb the Black Stars preparations as he has on several occasions greeted the leader.

“This wicked and vile publication is simply meant to damage my reputation, disturb our concentration during this very important World Cup and destroy the relationship I have built with people of all persuasions over the years,” Abbey told Ghanasoccernet.

“I have very very high respect for President Mills as a human being and high regard for him as the leader of Ghana so it is clear the publication wants to cause some vile rumpus.

“In fact since President Mills became the leader of our country I have been to the Castle four times and on all occasions I have happily greeted him so I don’t why the publication went this far to damage me.

“The day President Mills came to Pretoria I was about to go into a Fifa media plans meeting when the leader’s entourage arrived and I rushed out at least to greet him before the meeting started.

“Before I got there were many people surrounding President Mills and when I started greeting the official entourage, the Fifa media officer hauled me back for the meeting to discuss how the media operation will be on the first game.

“The publication said after we beat Serbia I refused to go into the dressing room with President Mills but it was me who was busily calling all the players to go into the dressing room to meet and take picture with the president.

“So it surprises me that after all this effort this newspaper which was not in Pretoria decided to publish this without even trying to double source the information or even as me.”

The Informer’s publication said Abbey is a self-appointed spokesman of the Ghana FA while implying that the federation is unaccountable to anyone.

But Abbey says he was been appointed by the Ghana FA board and that the federation’s accounts are audited annually.