Deputy Youth and Sports Minister, Joe Aggrey says on hindsight, he believes that officials of the GFA should have rejected the $25,000 gift given to the Black Stars by the River State Governor of Nigeria. Mr Aggrey who is alleged to have declined to take his share of the gift told reporters that at the time, the gesture did not come across as a bribe.

Ghana Football Association, GFA Chairman, Ben Kuofie told JOY-FM that he received the money in the presence of Mr Aggrey.

Football enthusiasts have condemned the decision of Ghana’s Football Authorities to accept the monetary gift from the State Governor calling for strict sanctions against the deputy Minister and other sports officials for bringing the name of Ghana Football into disrepute. But Mr Aggrey says he went on his own accord and not as a member of the GFA entourage. He also denies allegations that the money was a bribe further dismissing the notion that the Black stars would have been given more money had they won the match.

The Black Stars suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Super Eagles in a World Cup qualifying match in July this year.

There is a general displeasure at the explanations given by the GFA Chairman, Ben Kuofie with more calls for his resignation. To most Ghanaians, the silence of officials and especially journalists who also benefited from the gift confirms rumours that Ghana ‘sold out “ the match to Nigeria.

The ‘Evening News’ newspaper reports that the journalists were left out of the booty but were later given $100 each after they protested.

A former legal advisor of the Ghana Football Association, Alhaji Amadu Tanko says Ghana risks being sanctioned by the Confederation of African Football and FIFA if there is proof that the $25,000 gift to the Black Stars influenced the final outcome of the match.

The Editor of the Africa Sports newspaper, Kwabena Yeboah has however described calls for the resignation of the Ghana Football Association Chairman, Ben Kwofie as premature. In an interview with JOY-FM, Mr. Yeboah observed that Mr. Koufie does not have a negative record bordering on corruption. Hence the difficulty in telling if he acted with a clear conscience or otherwise. He however added that the decision to resign rests squarely on Ben Koufie’s shoulders.