Ayariga rubbishes report of Medeama takeover

Ghana’s former sports minister Mahama Ayariga has rubbished reports he is negotiating to buy a stake in Premier League side Medeama in the coming weeks, GHANAsoccernet.com can exclusively reveal.

The Bawku Central MP is shocked over reports claiming that he will buy shares in the Western Region-based club when he is not harbouring such thoughts.

Ayariga says he is not interested in buying any shares in any club and has not held or discussed such a move insisting the report is ‘absolutely false’.

A Ghanaian newspaper reported on Thursday that Ayariga will in the coming weeks negotiate the purchase of part of Ghana Premier League Club Medeama SC with president Moses Armah.

According to the report, the Mauve and Yellow outfit competed in the CAF Confederations Cup last season and the financial involvements in the Africa second-tier inter club competition has taken a toll on the Western club and it is obvious there is mounting financial stress crippling the once attractive side.

The report further claimed that the club has struggled to settle their heavy bills in recent months with coach Tom Strands being owed up to three months salary.

The report further claimed that the club’s hierarchy has discussed selling stakes to an investor with Moses Armah ready to offer up to 50% to prospective buyers and was reported that former Youth and Sports Minister Mahama Ayariga has been linked with a takeover of the club after deal brokers engaged in talks with the Bawku Central Member of Parliament.

However, Ayariga who is now in charge of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, has rejected the report saying there is no iota of truth in the report.

“Mr Ayariga has not met anyone from Medeama and has not discussed any such move with anyone. He is not involved and he is not interested in Medeama or any other club for that matter,” a source close to the former sports minister told Ghana’s leading football news outfit, GHANAsoccernet.com.

“The report is absolutely false and the reporter could have checked with the minister to ascertain the facts but went ahead with the story which is misleading. I can assure you that Mr Ayariga is not considering such offers from any quarters at all.”

The 40-year-old politician is concentrating on developing the Division One outfit Tamale All Stars he recently acquired together with some businessmen from his native Bawku.

The club was acquired from one time Northern Regional Football Association chairmanship contender Karim Starboy with the vision of transforming it to galvanize the youth in the conflict-prone Bawku.

The acquisition of the club by the Ayariga and businessmen in Bawku is meant to be an avenue to unite the youth who are seen as the key instigators of violence in the conflict zone.

Ayariga is keen on using sports to unite the youth to help quell the violence and strengthen his stranglehold of his position as the MP of the area for the ruling NDC party.