General News of Wednesday, 21 March 2001

Source: Akoto/JoyFM/ChoiceFm/Chronicle

"Missing" $46K FOUND !!!!

The $45,000 declared missing by former Minister of Sports, Mallam Yusif Isa has been found.

The cash, which was found in the glove compartment of a a yet to be identified car, was retrieved on Monday and sent to the central bank to determine whether the dollar bills are the original notes given to the Mallam or a surreptitious placement.

According to Yaw Ankrah (Joy FM), the former sports minister Mallam Yussif Issah received an annonymous telephone tip-off, that the money has been found. Since investigations are currently underway, the reporter could not give any more details. ......... Mystrey Unfolding...

Summary of the Story

A suitcase containing US$46,000 went missing during the national team's trip to Sudan last month, for a World Cup qualifier which Ghana lost 1-0. The money was meant to be used as a winning bonus for players of the Black Stars if they won the encounter against Sudan.

Mallam Yussif Issah, who lost his job in the 'money in the suitcase affair', rejected claims the suitcase carrying US$46,000 was in fact empty.

Mallam Issah had claimed that the case was checked in at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra by a colleague.

However a Ghana FA official claims the cash was taken out of the case before he took the case to the airport.

A three member committee started work to look into the incident.

Yesterday the Majority Leader in Parliament, J. H. Mensah raised doubts about the level of security at the Kotoka International Airport. Mr Mensah told Joy FM in an interview he has on several occasions had his baggage tampered with or stolen at the airport. Mr Mensah alluded to the possibility that the money might have been stolen at the airport.