BOMBSHELL: Assemblyman admits to paying GHS7,000 to Ghana Premier League referee to influence the outcome of a match [Asempa FM SportsNite]
A Ghanaian assemblyman known as Yaw Baako, popularly known as Honourable Aboroso, has admitted to paying a bribe of GHS7,000 to Ghana Premier League referee Kofi Kyei Andoh to influence the outcome of a Division Two sub middle league game involving Heman United and Aboi Youngsters.
Corruption in Ghanaian football became a global topic when investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas exposed a large number of referees and football administrators as well as influential people in the West African nation, influencing the outcome of matches through paying bribes to alter the natural outcome of matches played across various divisions in Ghanaian football.
The match which was played on August 28, 2021, was officiated by Emmanuel Jones and his assistants.
Kofi Kyei Andoh was assistant 2 during last season’s Ghana Premier League game involving Asante Kotoko and Bechem United which was played at the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park in Bechem.
The latest corruption scandal to hit Ghanaian football comes on the back of an assemblyman who has admitted to paying a bribe of GHS7,000 ($1,155) to Prestea-based Ghana Premier League referee Kofi Kyei Andoh who acted as a middle man to influence the performance of matchday referees who officiated the Division Two Sub Middle League game involving Heman United and Aboi Youngsters.
He admitted to Asempa FM’s Enoch Worlanyo on SportsNite that he paid money to the referees to influence the outcome of the match in question.
“I’m the one who paid the money. I should be blamed for everything that happened. I should be pardoned for whatever that happened,” he admitted.
BACKGROUND…
A heated argument ensued after the match when the outcome of the game didn’t go as prearranged by the men at the center of the controversy. In audio aired by Asempa FM’s SportsNite and obtained by Ghana Sports Online, referee Kofi Kyei Andoh and the assemblyman are heard in a heated argument over the money paid to the referees which the referee allegedly underdeclared.
In the audio, it was alleged that an amount of GHS7,000 was paid to Ghana Premier League referee Kofi Kyei Andoh for onwards distribution to all match officials involved in the game. But, apparently, only GHS2000 was given to the referees which sparked anger and furor between the parties.
Referee Kofi Kyei Andoh is yet to publicly comment on the issue. But, he is one of the Ghana Premier League referees who have recently undergone integrity and physical training in preparation to officiate matches in the Ghanaian top-flight league.
Meanwhile, retired referee Adu Kofi told Enoch Worlanyo that the matter has been reported to the Ghana Football Association’s referees’ manager Alexander Neequaye Kotey.
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The post BOMBSHELL: Assemblyman admits to paying GHS7,000 to Ghana Premier League referee to influence the outcome of a match [Asempa FM SportsNite] appeared first on Ghana Sports Online.
Source: Sports
