Ghana FA slams 'vicious' bribery reports before Niger clash at AFCON

Published on: 31 January 2013

The Ghana Football Association has rubbished reports that it attempted to bribe Ghanaian-born Niger defender Kofi Dankwa before Monday's final Group B match.

The publication was carried by the Ghana News Agency correspondent at the tournament  in South Africa which was also filed by the reporter of Accra-based radio station Radio Gold on Thursday.

The Black Stars defeated the Menas 3-0 in the Group B encounter at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Monday.

According to the report Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan met Kofi Dankwa on the eve of the game in an attempt to throw the game in favour of the Black Stars.

This report was carried even though it is known to journalists at the tournament that the strict security arrangement by the South African authorities during the tournament does not allow players to leave the team's hotel unless it is official duties approved by CAF.

Yet the report went ahead to make such claims which has led to the GFA to slam the report late at night in Port Elizabeth.

"We wish to state emphatically that report is false, irresponsible, reckless and mischievous," a statement issued by the GFA late on Thursday night in South Africa read.

"The GFA would like to state emphatically that there is no iota of truth in the report and it is the reckless imagination of the authors of the report."

The GFA added that the report is calculated to dampen the spirit of the Black Stars as they are just three wins away from the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in 31 years.

"GFA is extremely disturbed that at a time that the country is solidly behind the Black Stars to bring the Africa Cup of Nations trophy home, a tiny minority of journalists would engage in such nation-wrecking activity," the statement read.

''In as much as the GFA will strive to create opportunities to enhance the work of the media during this tournament, we will not condone acts meant to tarnish the image of the country."

Ghana will play Cape Verde on Saturday in the quarter final in Port Elizabeth and the GFA says the report will not disturb their concentration ahead of the game.

"We want to assure the people of Ghana that the team is focused on the campaign at the Africa Cup of Nations and with God on our side we will secure victory against Cape Verde on Saturday," the GFA said.

While the report sought to create the impression that Dankwa played a soft game against the Black Stars, he was the lead hatchet man for Niger during the game.

Dankwa even scored the goal that was disallowed by the referee after one of his team-mates fouled Ghana goalkeeper Fatau Dauda.

Ghana beat Niger to top Group B setting up Saturday's clash with Cape Verde.

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