Goldfields Sue Kotoko

Obuasi Goldfields have refused to pick up a cheque of ?145million cedis lodged with the Ghana Football Association by Kumasi Asante Kotoko being the outstanding balance for the transfer fees of Nana Arhin Duah and Isaac Boakye.

The Obuasi-based club last Friday filed a writ at the Accra High Court suing Asante Kotoko for non-payment of the transfer fees for the two strikers.

Obuasi Goldfields are also demanding interest at the prevailing bank rate from June 1, 2002 to the date of final payment in respect of Nana Arhin Duah and from August 1, 2002 to the date of final payment in the case of Isaac Boakye.

The statement of claim, filed by Goldfields? solicitors against Kumasi Asante Kotoko last Friday stated among other things that it was mutually agreed to transfer Nana Arhin Duah to Kotoko at the cost of ?130,000,000. Asante Kotoko subsequently paid half of the amount leaving an outstanding balance of ?65,000,000.

The two clubs also agreed on a transfer fee of ?80,000,000 on Isaac Boakye but Kotoko has reportedly not made any payment in respect of the national striker.

According to close sources, Kotoko communicated their terms of payment to the arbitrators, the GFA at meeting to settle the transfer dispute.

Under the agreement, Asante Kotoko intimated that, the amount was to be settled after their Mandela Cup competition against eventual winners, Wydad Casablanca.

The amount was settled through the GFA after the Cup Winners Cup competition but Goldfields have not picked up the cheque. But Obuasi Goldfields says that Kotoko reneged on the earlier agreement.

Though Asante Kotoko?s legal representative has filed an appearance on the club?s behalf, it is believed that the offices, of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, thus the Manhyia Palace might be used to try to settle the case.

This follows the briefing of Manhyia by the management of Asante Kotoko about the latest development on the impasse between both clubs.