The Ghana News Agency (GNA) has apologized for the match-fixing allegation levelled against the Ghana Football Association (GFA) at the just ended Africa Cup of Nations.

The story published on January 31 suggested that officials of the GFA attempted to bribe Ghanaian-born Niger defender Kofi Dankwa before their final Group B match.

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

The GNA carried the report even though they had a reporter at the tournament close to the Black Stars camp and did not cross-check the report before publishing.

The GFA issued a statement to categorically deny the story which it described as ‘false, irresponsible, reckless and mischievous’, sensing it as an attempt denigrate the reputation of the Black Stars team during the competition.

After being confronted with the evidence that the report is false and lacked all the basic ethics of journalism, the GNA has issued a grovelling apology and withdrawn the story

“The Ghana News Agency hereby retracts its story “NSPO 003? filed from Port Elizabeth, South Africa, on January 31,” a statement signed by the Supervising Editor of the GNA.

“It alleged that “Ghana’s 3-0 win over Niger at the ongoing 2013 Africa Cup of Nations has been slurred by allegations of bribery against Niger defender, Koffi Dankwa.”

“We regret the inconvenience.”

Meanwhile radio Gold who also carried the report have also apologised and withdrawn the story.