Ghanaians Are Not Fools

Failure by representatives of the Black Stars to appear before the presidential commission investigating the botched 2014 World Cup campaign in Brazil has infuriated the Commissioners. Chairman of the Commission Justice Dzamefe could not believe how the players �missed an opportunity� to tell their side of the story- a story that made Ghana a laughing stock at the global level. After a much-publicised campaign to have the Stars appear on October 16, 2014, the panel members learnt with shock there was not a single member of the Black Stars team before the commission on the advertised day. Even more shocking to the Commission was a letter written by lawyers of the GFA explaining that the FA has informed the players about the Commission�s invitation to them and the need for them to appear but the letter added that the FA chairman cannot physically drag them before the Commission. After reading the contents of the letter publicly, the Chairman of the Commission said amongst other things that the letter appears to be confirming the perception that president of the FA does not appear to have control over his team. Another member of the Commission and ace sports journalist Moses Foh Amoaning was livid not only by the letter but by the failure of the players to appear. He said to refuse a call by the Commission, is in itself an insult not only to the Commission but to the president on whose authority the Commission was formed. He said the conduct of the players typified the utter disrespect shown by the players to the FA and its management, the minister and even to the president during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. He could not understand how the players would accept winning bonuses paid to them by the state and yet refuse to appear before a commission set up by the state to probe a public interest issue. President of the FA Kwasi Nyantakyi who appeared to explain the reasons for the players� inability to appear before the commission said some of the players were to leave this morning and could not make it. He stated that the skipper of the side Asamoah Gyan had a match tomorrow and needed to leave today. He said efforts were being made to get Mr Gyan appear before the Commission, even if briefly, to answer whatever questions members of the commission had for him. Part of the FA�s letter had suggested that the Commission could contact the clubs of the various players to make them appear before the Commission. But Foh Amoaning was not impressed. He said the �FA can engage in all legalese they, want but Ghanaians are not silly; they are not fools.� �The conduct of the players is an utmost disrespect to Ghanaians and they owe all of us a huge apology. �Otherwise this Black Stars will go down as the most disgraceful Black Stars,� he noted. The FA president pleaded on behalf of the players and said the players will avail themselves to the Commission at a later date. He however added that �the day is not over yet,� suggesting that the players could still appear.