The president of the Ghana Football Association, Kwesi Nyantakyi, mesmerised the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on Tuesday when he made his maiden appearance.
A confident looking Nyantakyi told the three-member fact-finding body that he is ready to cooperate with the Commission to clear his name and that of the football governing body “of all misconceptions.”
The football capo told the body looking into Ghana’s participation at the 2014 World Cup that he has been called several names such as “thief” among others, and feels the “brilliant work” the Commission is doing will give him the right platform to clear his name.
“When you are in football, they think you are a thief,” Nyantakyi told the Justice Senyo Dzamefe Commission of Inquiry. “You are presumed guilty before you prove your innocence… and I don’t think that is right.”
Nyantakyi, who lasted for a little over an hour on his first day, said despite the tight position in which the Ghana FA finds itself, it ensures that it sees to the pressing financial needs of the national teams, especially the junior ones.
The GFA boss, who is due to reappear Wednesday, called on the State to invest in football because it serves as an avenue to advertise the country free of charge to the rest of the world anytime the Black Stars or other national teams play in an international friendly or in a major tournament.
“If we pay more attention to football it will help our country. We have close collaboration with the State, except that the State is not ready” to pump money into football, Nyantakyi pointed out.
The Ghana FA chief who said he was fired up for the Commission will reappear Wednesday and expected to talk about the controversial appearance fee and player revolt during the World Cup in Brazil.